PREFACE.

THE Asylum for Penitent Females, established last year at Hammersmith (for the benefit of which this little work is published), has already created a deep interest in the public mind; amongst Catholics, at least, this is decidedly the case, and even by a large number of Protestants it is approved of and appreciated, many of them having contributed largely to its support.

This Asylum is under the care of the Sisters of Charity of the Order of the Good Shepherd. The Order was established at Caen, in Normandy, in the year 1651. With other religious institutions, it suffered from the French Revolution,-the Sisters and the Penitents were alike dispersed, and the refuges it had erected were destroyed.

In the year 1829, this Society was restored

and recommenced its sacred task of seeking (as its name of the Good Shepherd imports) the lost, the abandoned, but penitent female. Since that period, ten houses have been established in France, of which the principal one is at Angers, and others have been formed in Bavaria, in Belgium, and in Piedmont. The establishment at Angers maintains upwards of three hundred female penitents. During the summer of 1841, some of the religious ladies of the Order. came from thence, to labour in their work of heroic charity in this country. A house at Hammersmith was fitted up for the reception of penitents, and the Sisters commenced their good work, under the sanction and paternal protection of the Venerable Vicar Apostolic of the London District, who appointed the Rev. Joseph Robson, of St. Mary's Chapel, Chelsea, the director of the establishment. Since that time penitents have been received on the recommendation of clergymen both in London and the country; indeed, so

numerous have been the applications, that the

good Sisters have been, in many cases, obliged, most reluctantly, to refuse admission, from want of room to accommodate them. It is the first time that an institution, the necessity of which is severely felt, has been attempted in this country by the Catholics. The treatment of the penitents is adapted to effect the correction and improve- ment of their minds. In order to cultivate habits of industry, and contribute towards the support of the Asylum, stated times are allotted to work. But the amendment and conversion of the penitents are the first objects of the Order; therefore, the practices and exercises of religion form a part of each day's occupation. In those cases where the penitents are not Catholics, these religious exercises are confined to attending public prayers and exhortations, and to the general observance of the regulations of the house; but compliance with the peculiar obligations of the Catholic religion is not demanded-none are retained against their will; each of the penitents is permitted to leave when compliance with the rules of the

establishment ceases to be voluntary; for the objects of the Order of the Good Shepherd are not those of punishment, but of conversion and repentance-not seclusion of life, but amendment of heart and restoration to society. As soon, therefore, as a penitent is judged sufficiently established in virtuous principles, she is restored to her friends, or, if destitute of these, is provided for in a suitable manner.

In all the occupations of the day they are accompanied by the Sisters. In the hours of recreation and of meals, in the times for prayer and instruction, in the work room, or at the sick bed, a Sister of Charity ever attends the penitents as their friend, instructress, or their nurse. These religious ladies never lose sight of those, to whose service they have dedicated their fortunes and their lives, for the love of God, and are ever at hand to counsel and admonish, to console and encourage.

Of the necessity of such an institution there can be no doubt. The experience of more than a