Page:Memoirs of Mrs. Elizabeth Fry.djvu/8

 6 PREFACE. Admiration of that distinguished Lady, by one who had the inexpressible happiness of being a fellow-labourer with her, in one department of philanthropic service providing Libraries for the Seaman (with their families) composing the Coast-Guard of the United Kingdom. That benevolent and noble -enterprise was a project worthy of her enlarged mind. And the carrying out of the design into full execution, during the years 1835 and 1836, in much diligent labour, and considerable intercourse with her after it had been completed, af- forded the Author abundant means of discovering the truly Christian principles and exalted character of that excellent Lady. He became thus acquainted with many of her plans of benevolence, and with much of her in- structive history, as she " went about doing good." With unfeigned sincerity he can declare that, though he has known many eminent Christian Ladies, whose heaven-born spirit and enlarged benevolence have " adorned the doctrine of God our Saviour," he has never met with, nor ever heard of, any one who ap- peared to be so highly gifted with the Spirit, or so fully to exemplify the virtues of our Divine Redeemer. Under this conviction, he was induced to collect various materials, documents, and papers, to form a Memoir of one whom he so sincerely venerated and esteemed. And, learning the hopeless condition of her declining health, he redeemed time from other weighty