Excerpt from The Life and Acts of Pope Leo XIII: Preceded by a Sketch of the Last Days of Pius IX. And the Origin and Laws of the Conclave

The title-page of this compilation sufficiently indicates its nature, and a preface would be super¿uous were it not the editor's duty to give the public some information in regard to the sources from which he has drawn his materials, and the manner in which the book has been put together.

That a book of this kind was needed is evident from the very greatness of the names which form our title-page but that the need is supplied only now, when nearly a year has elapsed since the death of Pius IX. And the election of his successor, seems to require some explanation.

Letters from Roman correspondents to newspapers in the various countries of the Old and the New Worlds pamphlets purporting to give correct information on the great events which form our subject books, large and small, entitled Life of Pius IX. And Life of Leo XIII. Were hurriedly poured from the press and it was to be expected that mere rumors would, in many instances, be stated as facts, and that the haste of the writers would betray them into many errors and exaggerations. It was, therefore, necessary to wait till the fermentation had subsided, and we could obtain a clear view of the subject in hand. It was necessary to compare the several writings, and to correct or supplement one by another.

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