PERRAUD (Adolphe Louis Albert) - Lot 130

PERRAUD (Adolphe Louis Albert) Lyon, February 7, 1828 - Autun, February 10, 1906. Oratorian, bishop of Autun, cardinal, ecclesiastical historian and member of the Académie française. L.A.S. "† Adolphe Louis, évêque d'Autun", Autun, August 2, 1878; 2 pages in-8 on embossed paper with his coat of arms. Beautiful autograph letter concerning a possible episcopal transfer and the steps taken by the government with the Holy See. Perraud warmly thanks his correspondent for his congratulations, while candidly confiding his deep attachment to his diocese of Autun: "I could not bring myself to leave a diocese so deeply attached to me". He reveals that until then he had responded negatively "to repeated requests from the government", specifying that his successive refusals had received "the approval of the Holy Father". Father". The letter takes on particular significance when he mentions the possibility of an appointment to Besançon: "If he sends me to Besançon, I will obey; if not, I will happily remain among my dear flock in Autun". This correspondence bears interesting witness to relations between the French episcopate, the government of the Third Republic and Rome in the late 1870s, in a context of delicate episcopal appointments. The second page is devoted to thanking his correspondent and his family for "the expression with which you have kindly shown me your feelings" and for "the kind offer of your hospitality". Beautiful autograph signature: "† Adolphe Louis, évêque d'Autun". Very fine condition. A letter of great historical and ecclesiastical interest.