Poup490

August 6, 1859. - Letter from Victor Poupinel to Euloge Reignier

Based on the duplicate copy, CLP p. 100. The letter is difficult to read.

Translation by ChatGPT, January 2024.

To Reverend Father Reignier.

Villa Maria,

August 6, 1859.

[1]

The mail of July arrived in Sydney on the morning of the 10th. I could only write my letters on Saturday afternoon. You may only receive my letters along with this one. Unfortunately, all the mail departs and arrives at the same time.

[2]

Since yesterday, I have your letters from the 19th, 20th, and 21st of July. They arrived just in time for me to complete my report on the proposals of Bishop Pompallier. It will be sent by the mail of the 24th of this month. Your information is exactly what I needed, and I thank you for the extract from Father Garavel's letter. The (Bay) of Isles is included in the Northern district... I am very pleased with your report. The (point) that concludes it is well-founded; the expenses in question are those referred to as extraordinary. Normally, expenses are divided into two categories: ordinary expenses and extraordinary expenses. The same applies to revenues when applicable. I advise you to carry over to next year's revenues the £20 amount of the last instalment, as well as the fees for masses that I authorized you to withdraw according to my letter of July 9. It will be more regular and clearer for us.

[3]

In my letter to Father Forest, I mention the harmonium, a schoolmaster, and new requests to make to Bishop. If you haven't made the £10.9 instalment I mentioned, you can increase the amount of the fees for masses previously paid by Father Forest; I will talk to him about it. As for the viaticum, I ask you to wait another month; I am too short of funds. I hope to send you the wax and books you asked for, as well as the clothing and shoes, with the steamer that will carry this letter. Your soutane will be sent on a subsequent occasion, along with Father Forest's cassock. We don't have quince tree plants; if they are not too expensive, we will buy them for you; I await the response tomorrow.

[4]

In a month, I will tell you about the items we can provide for your... and chapels. I will stop here, dear father, as I have many other letters to write these days. Your successes this year console and astonish me: may you soon be authorized to receive the salary of an army chaplain! We await the visit of Mr. Fitzgerald, to whom we will give a very warm welcome.

[5]

Let us support each other through prayer and pious remembrance at the Holy Sacrifice. Accept, dear father, my most affectionate feelings in Jesus, Mary, Joseph,

Victor Poupinel s.m.

[6]

With my letter of July 9, there was a letter from your sister-in-law.