PERRAUD (Adolphe Louis Albert) - Lot 150

PERRAUD (Adolphe Louis Albert) Lyon, February 7, 1828 - Autun, February 10, 1906. Oratorian, bishop of Autun, cardinal and French historian. Important L.A.S. signed "Adolphe Perraud", "à l'Oratoire", May 9, 1862; 4 pages in-8. Beautiful, long intellectual letter devoted to the critical reception of a work by Perraud and the study of Saint Augustine. Perraud thanks his correspondent for the benevolent tone of his letter and evokes his health with touching sincerity: "The change of air would have restored your stomach and nerves to their normal state." He then solicits an article designed to raise awareness of his book: "An article by you on my book would contribute most to making it known." Above all, the letter contains a remarkable development of his historical and religious method. Perraud explains that he deliberately based his work on "English and Protestant documents", the better to convince liberal minds: "I knew I had the truly liberal men of the opposing party for me." The author then proposes a vast subject of study devoted to St. Augustine: "Gaume's St Augustine [...] provides a fine study to make." And he adds this very revealing reflection of his intellectual positioning: "Not that I believe the philosophers of the Institute to be very capable of judging the philosophy of S. Augustine; but if you felt courageous enough to undertake this vast work, I would be happy to know you in intimate commerce with our great bishop of Hippo." The letter concludes with family considerations: his brother is still suffering "from the head", having preached Lent in Midi. A very interesting letter of religious and apologetic reflection, bearing witness to the intellectual debates of French Catholicism under the Second Empire, and to the Augustinian influence on Perraud's thinking. Full signature: "Adolphe Perraud, Priest of the Oratory of the Immaculate Conception." Very fine condition. Beautiful embossed Oratory paper.