Monsignor AFFRE (Denys Auguste), Archbishop of PARIS (Saint- - Lot 521

Monsignor AFFRE (Denys Auguste), Archbishop of PARIS (Saint-Rome-du-Tarn, Aveyron, 1793 – Killed in Paris on June 27, 1848). Letter A.S. “ AFFRE, Bishop, Coadjutor of Strasbourg,” on the letterhead of the Archdiocese of PARIS. Paris, February 15, 1840. Beautiful autograph letter addressed to His Excellency the Bishop of AUTUN. 1½ pages, in-8°: “Your Excellency. The matter concerning the Ladies of the Sacred Heart of AUTUN has merely passed through the secretariat and the Prefecture of the Seine. It is now with the Ministry. Since the Minister has requested only the assets and liabilities of the Motherhouse—that is, the novitiate—I believe nothing more will be required. Our recommendation will likely be postponed until the end of March. I assure you, I have no time to consider whether I have been nominated as bishop. In addition to the many matters at hand, I have a pastoral letter to draft. Since I wish neither to flatter the Parisians, nor to lack prudence, nor to resort to any clichés, but to speak frankly about the vices of our time, this is no small concern for me. Pray to the good Lord that He may enlighten me and guide my pen. We have no archbishop, and they do not intend to appoint one for another month and a half. At least, that is what is being said. The reason is that they are satisfied with our administration, but I cannot say that I myself am very pleased with my current position. I am very much looking forward to someone else taking on the responsibility. When we see you again, Your Excellency, I hope that God will grant me that pleasure once I have been able to sort out a few of the matters awaiting me in Strasbourg…”