PERRAUD (Adolphe Louis Albert) - Lot 153

PERRAUD (Adolphe Louis Albert) Lyon, February 7, 1828 - Autun, February 10, 1906. Oratorian, future cardinal, bishop of Autun, religious historian and member of the Académie française. Very important L.A.S. "Adolphe Perraud", Grenoble (Grand Séminaire), March 15, 1863; 4 pages in-8 on Oratoire embossed paper. A fascinating doctrinal and political letter to an intellectual correspondent on the subject of an article rejected by the Revue Contemporaine, religious debates surrounding England and, above all, the Polish question, then at the heart of European concerns in 1863. Perraud writes from Grenoble, where he is staying for the Lenten station: "I preach three times a week". He returns at length to the criticisms levelled at an article by his correspondent. In his view, the Revue Contemporaine's objections were excessive, especially as the Revue de l'Instruction Publique had shortly before published an "absolute eulogy" of his own work. Perraud then vigorously defended the text's spirit of moderation and impartiality: "Your article obviously had to maintain a tone of moderation and impartiality towards England". He adds this remarkable formula: "the only reproach it has received so far is that it may have pushed this moderation to excess". The historical interest of the document becomes considerable when Perraud discusses the Polish uprising of 1863 and the emotion it aroused in French Catholic circles. He writes: "our hearts, our thoughts, our prayers and our hopes are at this moment on the battlefields of Poland". A fine testimony to the philopolitan impulse that was sweeping through some of the French clergy and intellectuals under the Second Empire. Perraud then recalls his recent trip close to the theater of operations: "I saw and touched the soul of this great people". He describes the Poles as: "invincible to persecution and suffering". Particularly interesting passage on French political debates around the law of nationalities: "the Senate will deliberate on this petition in favor of Poland". The letter also mentions several figures from the intellectual and editorial world of the time: Victor Duruy, Gustave Rouland, the Revue de Lyon, and a certain Faugeron, announced as soon to be married. A fine document combining liberal Catholicism, editorial debates and moral commitment to the Polish cause at the time of the 1863 uprising. Autograph signature: "Adolphe Perraud". Good overall condition; a few traces of creasing and light marginal foxing.