After the duke’s death, his widow paid frequent visits to the Continent.  Pau was a specially favourite resort.  There she found both English and French Protestants worshipping in places utterly inadequate for the purpose.  She generously purchased a site for a church to be used by both congregations, the lower storey being fitted up for a French Protestant school.  She also liberally subscribed towards the erection of the church.  Her good works at this place were not few.  Having heard that a man living near had broken his leg, she drove off at once to visit him, and repeated her visits weekly.  A Bible was given to him, and the result was that his first journey on his crutches was to the Protestant service at Pau.  He was convinced that in the teaching of the Protestants alone there was safety.  The next day the children were withdrawn from the Roman Catholic school.  The excitement was great, and no little persecution and pecuniary loss ensued to the new converts.  The duchess began her Protestant school at Pau with eight pupils.  She also had Bible classes from time to time, one being for Roman Catholic girls.  A Sabbath evening service was held by the duchess for her French servants.

The story of Manuel Fuster, a Spanish refugee, is an interesting one.  He had been destined by his parents for the priesthood.  But having fallen into destitute circumstances, the duchess’s butler had shown him kindness and given him some work to do for the house.  Full of gratitude, when her grace passed through the courtyard, he fell down on his knees to thank her.  She told him that that homage should be paid only to the Most High.  At this interview and at many others she spoke to him about his soul’s salvation.  A French Bible was given to him before she left.  On her return to Pau the next year, he was found breaking stones by the roadside, a conversation proving that he was quite a changed man.  In the end he did good Christian service as a colporteur in France.

In 1847 the duchess was advised to winter in the south of Europe.  Frequent attacks of bronchitis had made this course advisable.  She took up her residence at Cannes, having prospects of being useful there.  And her hope of being useful was very substantially realised. “Cannes, Dec. 1847.—­Constant occupation, and many, many new opportunities of meeting with the Lord’s people, and speaking of the glad tidings of great joy, have caused the delay in writing.  I now know what fine climate is, and the country and views are beautiful; but above all there is a field of usefulness that we could not have at Nice, and an open door for the Gospel.  Altogether, no tongue can tell the goodness of the Lord to us.  He is letting me get glimpses both of His love and His glory in the face of Jesus Christ, such as I have never had before; and all this with such peace in outward circumstances!  Is it not marvellous?  You need not be alarmed about my ‘exposition’ on Saturday; I feel