Poup0018

7 July 1843. — Letter of Victor Poupinel to Jean-Baptiste Epalle

Based on the document sent, 3 pages, APM 1486/21182. Edited in CS2 doc. 87.

Translated by ChatGPT, February 2024

Father / Reverend Father Epalle, Apostolic Provicar / Rome / Sea Route

[postal marks]

LYON (-8) 9 ---- -- — DIREZIONE B ------- 17 LUG 43 — CORRIERISTA D ---

[p. 1]

Lyon, July 7, 1843

Reverend Father,

[1]

We are eagerly awaiting a letter from your reverence; however, as your reverence might not have written upon arrival in Rome, the Reverend Father General has entrusted me with conveying the following updates and reminding you not to forget to provide 5 baiocchi for the postage of each of your letters in Rome. Without this necessary postage payment, they will not leave Piazza Colonna.

[2]

You will be pleased to hear, Reverend Father, that our good father is much better; he had 8 days of a severe fever, which left him weak, but he is beginning to resume his duties.

[3]

A letter has just been received from Captain Michel in Valparaiso, dated March 10, 1843. He sold the schooner for 17,500 francs and deducted 1,500 francs from this amount for the payment of sailors, excluding his pay and that of the second mate. He hopes to arrive in Lyon in August with his draft for 10,000 francs.

[4]

Reverend Father Baty, while dispatching some letters from Wallis of a somewhat old date, wrote to the Reverend Father General on September 6, 1842, a brief letter of which I have the honour to transmit the final words to you:

[5]

"I have nothing particular to tell you, my very Reverend Father, except that my position, working with His Excellency on the printing of Maori books, puts me in a bit of unease and causes me to have consistently unpleasant interactions with the representative of God in this part of His Church. Now, more than ever, I am obliged to make a small sacrifice of myself. May it please Jesus Christ! And I hope it will; for all my needs, I earnestly recommend myself to your prayers."

[6]

The Australasian Chronicle announces that a solemn Mass of thanksgiving was celebrated in Sydney on January 15 for the happy arrival in that metropolis of Fathers Bernard, Moreau, and Chouvet. In its issue of February 2, it states that the directors of the New Zealand Company have written to Colonel Wakefield to allocate a sum of money for the construction of the Catholic church in Port Nicholson. However, the Acting Governor has declared that it is not in his power to grant any assistance for this purpose (in Auckland, where nevertheless the Catholics have met all the required conditions according to Sir R. Bourke's act, to qualify for a subsidy), and yet he has increased the amount given to the Protestant minister in Auckland from £200 to £300 sterling this year. Father Petitjean has started a subscription for the establishment of a school in this city, and the governor has subscribed as a private individual. It seems that the natives in the Bay of Tauranga are at war with each other; the governor had initially calmed them down, but they seem to be more agitated again.

[7]

That, Reverend Father, is what we know about the mission; the day before yesterday, we received a new draft from Bishop Pompallier, dated November 29, 1842, payable to Messrs. Thompson & Company for 8,400 francs.

[8]

I kindly ask your reverence to inform Father Duclos that I have received the Direttorio with all the letters. The young man he mentioned to the Father Superior did not come; the package was deposited in Marseille at the Messageries. I had an opportunity for Caen, and I took advantage of it to send packages to Father Grouet addressed to Messrs. Hervieu Le Herpeur. Then, I made another one addressed to Mr. de Malherbe and wrote to Father Christophe, sending him Mr. Duclos's note. The letters for Mr. Carrière and Knight Drach have been posted. Please convey the Father Superior's gratitude to Mr. Duclos for the last rescript he obtained for us. You will kindly reimburse him for the expenses, and we will settle it upon your return. My regards and thanks to this dear friend.

[9]

It seems to me that I have nothing more to tell you, except that your letters are eagerly awaited, and I earnestly recommend myself to your prayers and holy sacrifices.

[10]

I have the honour to be, with the utmost respect, Reverend Father, your very humble and obedient servant, Victor Poupinel.

[11]

I would be much obliged if you could bring in writing the little dialogue that the holy apostles Peter and Paul had when they met on their way to martyrdom. It is written above the door of the small chapel erected on that site, on the road to St. Paul-outside-the-walls.

[12] [in Colin's handwriting]

Father Poupinel has told you what's new. I content myself with adding that you should take care of your health, take precautions not to catch a fever. We await news from you. Totus tibi, Colin.