Girard0260

8 June 1843 - Father Petit-Jean to Father Épalle, Auckland

Summary

He gives some more details about the wreck at sea of the “Speculator” which had been carrying Father Borjon and Brother Deodat.

Today the French flag had been lowered at Akaroa and replaced by the Union Jack, ending French claims there.

A lot of economic misery in Auckland.

High praise for the energy of the newly arrived Bishop Selwyn – has walked the length of the North Island already.

June 1843 — Father Jean-Baptiste Petit-Jean to Father Jean-Baptiste Épalle, Auckland

Based on the dispatch, APM OOc 418.22.

Translated by ChatGPT3.0 and Merv Duffy, December 2024.

Two sheets sewn and glued together to form an eight-page booklet, seven of which are written, with the eighth carrying only the address and Poupinel’s annotation. In the letter registry, ED 1, it was listed as number 131.

[p. 8] [Address]

France

Monsieur Colin —

Lyon, Montée Saint-Barthélemy nº 4 ¤ Lyon —

for Father Épalle

[In Poupinel’s hand]

Auckland, June 8, 1843 ¤ Father Petit-Jean

[p. 1]

New Zealand, Auckland, June 8, 1843

I have just reread my letter, and I am ashamed to send it to you, so scribbled as it is. Please forgive me.

Mary conceived without sin, I entrust this letter to you.

My Reverend Father,

[1]

It is the Tortue, that enormous English barque you saw at the Bay of Islands. You know it had come to recover the remains of the Buffalo, which had been shipwrecked, and to load masts for the English government. Father Borjon and Brother Déodat are thus lost. Alas, they were leaving Auckland for Port Nicholson almost at the same time you were boarding L’Aube to go to France.

[2]

You have happily arrived at your destination, and now you are among our brothers in Europe. As for the father and brother I just mentioned, we must make the sacrifice; we will not see them again in this world. When the Speculator (that is the name of the ship they were aboard) set sail, the weather was very bad both on land and at sea; it was the month of August. A violent southwest wind was blowing. It is presumed that they sank, as no debris clearly linked to the lost ship has been found on the shores. This is explained by the nature of the heavy wood from which the Speculator was built. About 40 years ago, it came out of the shipyards in Sydney. Additionally, it is said that the captain commanding it lacked sobriety. But why dwell on human conjectures about the reasons for this accident? Our brothers are no more, and we have prayed for the repose of their souls.

[3]

I must confess to you, my Reverend Father, in the outpouring of my friendship, that this event nearly shook my confidence. But I find a secure anchor in these words of Saint Paul: Unde debuit per omnia fratribus similari – tentatum autem per omnia. These words, which apply excellently to the great High Priest Jesus and are said of Him, I apply to priests, and especially to apostolic missionaries. I conclude that it is necessary for missionaries to be exposed to perish by hunger, by persecutions, by wild beasts, and especially here, by shipwrecks. God does not perform constant miracles to save so many priests who are ceaselessly in danger on the ocean. Missionaries, though they are friends of Jesus, must appear in every way like the rest of mankind.

[4]

Recently, an Englishman named McKlin assured me that Father Pezant was nearly lost; he would inevitably have capsized in his canoe if a boat of Europeans had not been there to rescue him. Well, Mary surely did not abandon our shipwrecked brothers; she must have extended her hand—not to save them from the waters, but to help them ascend to heaven. (We must remember that miracles are mainly for those who do not believe or hope.) The thought of being buried in the waves holds no horror for me. What is more repugnant: to be devoured by thousands of worms, or to be swallowed up by two or three fish? The earth, the sea, and all the abysses will one day give up their dead, and from every corner, Mary’s children will gather around their mother, like eagles around a body. After all, it is a case where one might say, as in many disasters: Let us be silent. Let us adore God. Now, since the Good Lord especially wishes to lead our Society by the ordinary path—indeed, entirely by the ordinary path—so that it more faithfully represents the life of Jesus and Mary, He has chosen a father and a brother among us to be an example, showing that He treats us outwardly just as harshly as others. Father Borjon and dear Brother Déodat were certainly among those most prepared to die among us. Two have perished so that we might not presume too much; all the others have been spared from a hundred dangers so that we may always hope.

[5]

Often, the Lord, inscrutable in His designs, delights in frustrating human hopes to accomplish nobler ends and fulfil His ever-adorable will. To my eyes, what could have seemed more likely, more certain, than the establishment of a mission at Ascension Island? Did not God’s will seem clearly indicated? Were not all the means at hand? And yet today, Tongatapu has the two priests who might have been thought destined for the Caroline Islands. I bless the Lord. I am convinced that this archipelago will not be left wanting; it needs an apostolic vicariate, and, if I am not mistaken, it will soon have one. A French captain, Monsieur Bérard, commander of Le Rhin, without my having said a word about these islands, kept praising to me the gentleness of their inhabitants and the favourable disposition toward religion that their proximity to the Spanish-controlled Marianas might inspire.

[6]

On Pentecost day, Commander Bérard and his staff attended Mass in the modest chapel of Saint Patrick. I do not know if he is devout. What I do know is that his face bears the mark of kindness and generosity. All the French officers contributed to the offering box; his offering was a twenty-franc coin, which I could distinguish from the others.

[7]

Today, it seems that our supposed French possession at Akaroa is no more; the English flag now flies there, and an English customs office is fully operational. Monsieur Lavaud foresaw all of this, but he had arranged things so that the British flag would not be raised in his presence. Hardly had he departed when Magistrate Robinson raised the flag of that nation.

[8]

In return, it is said that France now has the Marquesas and Tahiti. But what am I saying? Our kingdom is no more of this world than that of the good Master for whom we fight. I am fortunate to have a small chapel and a school in Auckland. This chapel can barely accommodate 250 people, and I estimate the European Catholic population of Auckland to be around 400 or 450 souls. There is no doubt it will grow rapidly through immigration.

But God, what misery there is in this capital of New Zealand. Everywhere—or almost everywhere—there are debts. The government itself owes many arrears to its employees. The high sheriff has issued a writ of seizure against himself. Merchants scarcely sell anything except for cash. The only ones I see on the path to fortune are the lawyers and the usurers. What cruel pests these latter are! The hyena that so closely threatened the vicar general of Algiers, as he returned from an expedition and slept under the stars, was less cruel than these monsters with human faces.

An Auckland resident I know well is on the verge of having his house repossessed, losing 2,000 or 3,000 francs over a debt of 300 or 400 francs that he cannot currently pay, despite paying interest at 25 percent. It is good to have money. Everything has become cheap. One hundred feet of sawn timber, planks, etc.—you can get them for 9 shillings delivered to Auckland, whereas they used to cost 30, 35 shillings, or even £2. Everything else is similarly priced. The only thing that has not decreased in cost is travel expenses.

[9]

The Protestants have a rather beautiful brick church. They are about to start building another one about eight miles from Auckland. What encourages them is that the Protestant bishop doubles the subscriptions made by individuals. Truly, this bishop appears to be an intrepid and prudent observer. He goes here and there, traveling quietly, gathering notes everywhere, and presiding over everything without taking much advice from the older Protestant missionaries. He walked all the way from Port Nicholson to Auckland, and also from the Bay of Islands to Auckland.

I had the honour of meeting his traveling companion, Mr. Martin, the chief justice. He told me he had seen a report in Ireland estimating the number of New Zealand Catholics at around 8,000 or 10,000, though he could not remember exactly. However, he added, “It does not seem to me that this information is accurate.” This gentleman is honest and tolerant. He gave no less than 125 francs for our Catholic chapel.

[10]

Fortunately, he has not seen all our Catholics to count them. My Reverend Father, to give you an idea of the present distress, I will tell you that the wages of labourers in Auckland are generally no higher than what is paid to a farmworker in France. Many work simply to earn food. Governor Hobson has died, and his replacement is expected in two or three months. But unless investors with money come, the country will not improve.

Nonetheless, Nicholson resembles a large city; even Auckland and its surroundings are starting to appear promising. This latter city contains 2,000 to 3,000 inhabitants. It seems to me that New Zealand is undoubtedly destined to become an important country. A large trade in phormium tenax (New Zealand flax) is being organized. Near Auckland, there is already a machine for processing it; at Nicholson, there is almost enough of this export product to load a ship. Success is not guaranteed, but no trial seems too costly for the enterprising and industrious England.

The Bay of Islands is not growing. A bishop of New Zealand will surely choose to settle in Auckland rather than in the Bay—unless that bishop is simultaneously the apostolic vicar of other archipelagos. The Methodists have raised a chapel in our capital.

[11]

To conclude what I have to say about the Protestant bishop, it is claimed that he is a Puseyite. In this capacity, he had some rather fine altar candlesticks made for his church, and, judging by their design, they seemed destined for sacred use. However, he did not dare to unload them. It appears he denied ownership of the candlesticks. The crate containing them had no address. These poor rejected candlesticks were offered to Reverend Father Forest, my predecessor, as though they belonged to him.

They could only have been suitable for a Roman Catholic church. It was solely due to the Father’s good faith that he refused them. Had he mistakenly accepted them, it is likely he would have remained their peaceful possessor. These poor Puseyites—these new seekers of truth and tradition—how much they are to be pitied. When, then, will they resolve to take the step that is expected of them? When will they give their nation a perfect impetus?

[12]

A couple of months ago or more, the Catholics of Sydney celebrated a great event: the arrival of their beloved archbishop. Everyone was stirred—his friends as well as his enemies. This amiable man counts many friends, even outside his communion. I do not even believe he has personal enemies, for he is so good. However, within the Protestant faction, there are men of a hostile disposition, at their head being the Protestant bishop of Australia.

Did he not have the audacity and naivety to protest against the Pope and reject all the authority of the Holy Father, all jurisdiction outside the Diocese of Rome? It was pointed out to him just how odious his actions were and how they smacked of a spirit of persecution, especially when Archbishop Polding was merely the Apostolic Vicar of Sydney.

The so-called Protestant bishop accused him of being an intruder and encroaching on his own functions. And now, as Archbishop Polding came to take possession of his archiepiscopal seat, the same so-called Protestant bishop completed his role as a Protestant by protesting against the Pope’s jurisdiction extra Romam.

I say "so-called Protestant bishop" because it was demonstrated to him in a letter that he himself has neither jurisdiction nor episcopal character, as no one in England can grant him jurisdiction over Australia, and because the invalidity of Anglican ordinations is more than probable.

The most pitiable part of this affair is that the unfortunate man dared to invoke the Church's canons in his favour. Into what fire he placed himself! He made himself an easy target for criticism. Let us rejoice. All this has happened so that the eyes of many of our misguided brothers may be completely opened. Farewell to persecution in this land. The truth will shine in all its splendour. A great light is being placed on the candlestick.

The archbishop of this city is a saint. He has witnessed the wonders of ecstatica and addolorata, and he is a witness to attest to the truth of what thousands of European witnesses testify to in Europe concerning the bleeding wounds of Domenica Lazzari. I shall abbreviate.

[13]

Bishop Pompallier has received all the money sent to him by Fathers Bernard and others. They acted rashly in leaving the French ship at Hobart Town.

[14]

Father Pezant complains that the book printed by the Bishop does little good, and one of the reasons he gives is that it is written in very poor Māori. He sends this remark to the Bishop, as if believing himself obliged to do so by the most rigorous duty of conscience. He also finds the questions and answers too long. However, it appears that this book does much good.

[15]

I have heard that the Chief Justice mentioned in this letter assumes, based on his own observations, that there are close to 100,000 New Zealanders.

[16]

Monsieur Dominique from Whangaroa is building a 90-ton ship. I hear rumours that the Bishop will take it and pay half the cost along with another party.

[17]

I am expecting a priest who is supposed to stay with me. The Bishop also wants me to visit the natives. Pray for me, my dear friend. I see and feel, with a conviction of truth that is almost terrifying, that I am not capable of occupying even the humblest place in the mission.

[18]

I remain, with respect, my Reverend Father, your very humble and very obedient servant in Jesus and Mary,

Jean-Baptiste Petit-Jean,

Marist priest and apostolic missionary

Notes

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