Poup0002

30 May 1839 — Letter of Victor Poupinel to Thomas Heptonstall

Minute on the reverse of a letter of Colin to the Consul General of Rome in Marseille, APM 2275/11652 ; summary in EG n° 2. Editted in CS1, 73.

To the reverend doctor Heptonstall

Marie - 30 mai 1839

[Following text is in English in the original]

Dear reverend doctor,

[1]

We have received your letter of 23 instant to our reverend superior, but he is from hence a few days ago for a journey to Bordeaux. His brother at his place opened your amiable letter. I write to you today, reverend doctor, in order to profit of your very great complacency for us and our dear mission of New Zealand. My superiors have given to me the care of the affairs of this mission, and it I which procures to me the advantage and honor of writing to you. I try to do it in English language; I am very far from being acquainted with your language, but you will be good enough to pardon my inability. I understood very well your letter, thus to keep up a correspondence with you, reverend doctor, will be very useful to me. In an outlandish language it would be too difficult to me to describe to you all the gratitude of my heart for your good willing to render to our missioners so important services. I can only say that our reverend superior and the whole our little Society will be very grateful, and we will increase our prayers to God and the saint Virgin Mary in order that the divine goodness calls back at sooner the whole England in the bosom of the true church.

[2]

I was very glad of giving myself your respects and thanks to Mr Meynis and informing him that Mrs Wright had received the bills for the right reverend bishop Polding. Mr Meynis has willingly approved the way of paying to you incurred expenses for our letters or parcels by Mr Charles Weld, the secretary of the Propagation of the faith in England. Mr Choiselat, the treasurer of the Propagation in Paris, will write to this gentleman on this reason. We have received the news of our dear brethren’s happy arrival at Boulogne, and we hope they are arrived at time to embark on Mr Cooper’s board. It is to hope that another time we shall not so hurry.

[3]

Today we have received from the cardinal prefect of the congregation de propaganda fide the parcel of letters here annexed to the right reverend bishop Pompallier; perhaps these letters [in the margin] are very important, at least they will do a great pleasure to our dear bishop; nevertheless it is probable our brethren will be gone away at their arrival in London. I then should dare pray you, reverend doctor, to send out these letters to the right reverend Polding in order to transfer them to New Zealand. If you thought that a journey to London was sometimes necessary for the affairs of our mission, I would be very glad to declare to you my gratitude.

[Following text is in French in the original]

[summary]

[in the margin]

To the reverend doctor Heptonstall in London.

2. – Lyon, 30 May 1839

[4]

Mr. Heptonstall was thanked for his services and his willingness to take charge of our correspondence. At the same time, a letter from Rome for Archbishop Pompallier was sent to him. It was announced to him that Mr. Weld, treasurer of the Propagation of the Faith in England, would be authorized to pay him the transportation expenses for our belongings and letters.

Signed: Poupinel, secretary.

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