Barberey, Helen Bailly de, France, to Monsignor Robert Seton, Madison, New Jersey, 1870 November?

Incomplete letter … since September 17. Barberey's husband does not know where she is. He writes often by the letters which the balloons bring them; the latest was written November 6. For several weeks, they have been expecting the enemy; it would take only 2 days' march to be upon them. She would have liked to remain in Paris with her husband; he said she could be a handicap or perhaps a danger to him. She returned to Mots'quon alone and has spent the days since in this solitude, busying herself in writing two articles about the lamentable events in Rome last October. Her heart bleeds at the thought of the Holy Father and all the holy souls who are persecuted by those miserable Italians. What Garibaldi has done is infamous. She hopes Seton will write to her as she has need of consolation and support. Has Seton's brother Henry a child yet? Does Seton know about Madame Schell' s return to New York? She left with a thousand recommendations from the Ladies of the Sacred Heart and with hopes of doing good in the United States; she has good will and Barberey hopes she will succeed. Has Seton seen anything of Barberey's cousin, Countess de Chambrun? She is in Washington. Has Seton been to Emmittsburg this summer? Barberey's thoughts often go there. When she feels disheartened she often asks Seton's saintly grandmother to help her. Barberey's mother often speaks of Seton and sends regards. Seton has written on the back of the letter: This letter is from Madame de Barberey, a granddaughter of Count Roederer. It is curious from the point of philately as being probably one of the very latest occasions on which the postage stamps of the 2nd Empire were used. The writer is the authoress of the Vie d'Elizabeth Seton which was crowned by the French Academy. :: II-1-a A.L.S. Incomplete French 4pp. 12mo.