Barberey, Maurice de, Matignon, France, to Monsignor Robert Seton, Madison, New Jersey, 1867 December 27

Seton's letters attest to the memories he holds of his all too short visit at Matignon. He does not want to always leave the expression of his thanks to Madame de Barberey. They have followed with much interest his first steps since his return to America. As he wrote, Robert was not satisfied with the post which Mgr. Bealey Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley had assigned him at first and were glad to hear of the happy change. Barberey will return to Paris in a week; there is the life, the movement, the action. Especially at this moment where great questions hold the world in suspense: the sovereignty of the Holy see, the existence of the Italian kingdom, peace or war, the increase of the army, freedom of the press, right of assembly. What events have taken place since Seton left! Four million frances, $800,000 in subscriptions taken in 2 months, burning letters from their bishops, public sentiment, which constrained their government to send troops to Rome. It may be that the first agitation will come from guilty Italy and that war may break out either in the East or in Germany. He sees a dark future. Seton's country is paying the bloody tribute a nation pays to war; he is too for away no doubt to become involved in their complicated quarrels. Madame Helen Bailly de Barberey continues to work on the writing of the "holy life" which attracts her more and more. Since Seton left she has formed a very strong friendship with Patrisio Filicchi who writes very kind letters. He has agreed to copy all of a series of letters from Seton's grandmother Mother Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton . The precious envoy stopped enroute at Matignon instead of going to embark at Southampton. They read President Andrew Johnson's message; parts of it interested them even though they are not Know-No-things. But are they really going to allow the supremacy of the negro over the white to continue in the Southern states? If Barberey was from the South he would flee to 60 degrees north. Instead of giving political rights prematurely to the former slaves they should bring from Italy several hundred unemployed gentlemen to teach catechism to these poor people; that would be a double Christian charity. At least the Italian revolution would serve some purpose. Cannot Seton come back to Matignon; he will always find devoted and friendly hearts there. :: II-1-a A.L.S. French 6pp. 12mo.