Bonnamy, Father R., Rome, Italy, to Archbishop Napoleon Joseph Perché, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1872 January 14

Last year Bonnamy personally offered his best wishes for the New Year to Perché at Rome. He hopes Perché has received his two letters. He did not write in July, August, or September because he was spending his vacation in France. Bishop Charles Emile Freppel had sent to Rome for Pope Pius IX 's 25th anniversary a titular-canon from Angers to represent the diocese. The Italians detained him and made him submit to all sorts of bad treatment. Arriving at Rome, he fell so ill that Bonnamy had to accompany him back to Angers. At Rome the Italians are working actively at their pretended work of unification. Patriotism has been made a religion and it is used as an excuse for all kinds of abuses. Bonnamy can explain two burials he recently witnessed only as ceremonies of that religion. Perhaps it is affiliated with the new religion that has just been invented in Germany by Johann Joseph Ignaz von Döllinger whose name is venerated by all the priesthaters in Rome. The Vatican now presents a less said and more consoling spectacle. Within the past few days Bonnamy was admitted to the throne room with several other Frenchmen for an audience with the Pope who returned to his old topic when he addressed them, namely that it is the alliance of a number of good Catholics with evil men that is ruining France. His Holiness despite a noticeable loss of weight this past year still gives the appearance of extraordinary energy for his age. Two months ago Emperor Dom Pedro II of Brazil came to pay his respects to the Pope. He had just visited Victor Emmanuel and hoped to serve the interests of his friend by trying to arrange an accommodation. The Pope replied by asking if it would be possible to unite light and darkness to form something complete and uniform. The Baroness of Sartory has charged Bonnamy to convey her respects to Perché. She has been ill all summer and for the past month confined to bed as the result of a fall. Last year Perche obtained the continuation or augmentation of her pension from Cardinal Giacomo Antonelli but after his departure Antonelli refused to live up to his agreement. Mrs. Garcia, whom she had asked to intercede for her with her uncle, either did not do so or did not insist. P.S. From time to time Bonnamy meets Perche's old servant who always asks about him. :: VI-2-o A.L.S. French 6pp. 4to. 10