Castella, Countess de, Fribourg, Switzerland, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1871 June 29

It has been a long time since she has written and since that time many things sorrowful to the Catholic heart have happened, especially in her country, France. One consolation has been the conduct of the Swiss. She speaks of seeing an army of 80,000 men arriving, fatigued, cold, and hungry at Fribourg. Her small town was prepared for 41 thousand and saw 6 or 7 thousand a day arrive for many days. But charity has done wonders. Not one has been without shelter, and even the poor have come to their aid. The women have rivaled the Sisters of Charity in their devotion to the sick. The protestant cantons have shown the same charity. The soldiers have shown their thankfulness. The city of Fribourg has shown its Catholicity also in commemorating the 25th anniversary of the coronation of Pius IX. The rain could not spoil the illuminations. She has noticed that in America, also, there have been celebrations of the day so sorrowfully observed in the Vatican. The Countess de Pourtalos has spent some time at Fribourg. She speaks with her frequently of Rome. Her eyes are growing weak and she merely adds a few words to letters that she dictates. The Countess de Contre has lost a nephew in the seige of Metx. She has quit Rome but thinks of returning. The Countess read in the papers that Bishop Dupanloup was named Archbishop of Paris. Last year he was at Enseilden where she goes for her retreat. The young family he blessed has been increased by a little daughter. P.S.—She has not heard from Bishop James R. Bayley . On the feast of St. John she will pray for Purcell and Bayley as she has always done since 1862. :: II-5-e A.L.S. 6pp. 12mo.