SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL: (1581-1660) French Catholic Priest. Venerated both in the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. Canonized in 1737 by Pope Clement XII. Vincent de Paul is known for his humility and for serving the poor. Extremely rare L.S., `Vincent de Paul I.[ndigne] P.[retre] d[e] l[a] M[ission]´, (''Vincent de Paul, Unworthy Priest of the Mission''), with two additional words to a correction in his hand, three pages, 8vo, Paris, 14th June 1658, to the Superior of Firmin Get, in French. Saint Vincent de Paul refers to the ships going to Algeria and refers to Algiers, to Marseille, Tunisia, to the slaves and as usual to funds which could help the slaves and the convicts, and states in part `..j´estime comme vous qu´il n´y a'rien a espérer du côté de la ville de Marseille pour l´entreprise d´Alger. Il faut attendre de la Providence seule ce qu´il lui plaira d´en ordonner. Je vous prie de me mander le temps précis que partira la barque de M. Roman et s´il ne s´en prépare point d´autre. Je vous dirai au premier jour, comme j´espere, celui que nous aurons choisi pour aller négocier la décharge du consul´ (“I believe like you that there is nothing to hope from the side of the city of Marseille for the project of Algiers. We must expect from Providence alone what it pleases to order. Please let me know exactly when Mr. Roman's boat will leave and if there is no other in preparation. I will tell you on the first day, as I hope, which one we will have chosen to go and negotiate the discharge of the consul”) Saint Vincent de Paul further refers to payments to release slaves and convicts and to the honest persons he trusts for such negotiations and states in part `Je voudrais bien lui remettre l´argent qui vous reste pour le rachat de deux basques; mais celui qui fait ici pour eux nous a dit de ne pas le faire sans son avis, que nous attendons. Celui que nous enverrons a Alger pourra conduire cet argent et le délivrer aux esclaves même´ (“I would like to give him the money you have left for the purchase of two Basques; but the one who handles the matters here for them told us not to do it without his advice, which we are waiting for. The person we will send to Algiers will be able to take this money and deliver it to the slaves themselves”) With address leaf. Few stains not affecting the signature and very little the text which remains fully and easily legible. Accompanied by a full transcription of the letter. G to VG

 

Firmin Get (1621-1682) Superior of the Mission in Marseille.