LACORDAIRE Jean-Baptiste-Henri (1802-1861)

8 autographed letters addressed to Sophie Swetchine, to Monsieur Fidry, to Count de Falloux and a "copy" of a letter dictated by Father Lacordaire to a lady, Strasbourg, Sorèze, Rome, Convent le Bosco, dated from March 16, 1846 to June 22, 1861. About 21 pp.1/2 in-8, in-4, in-folio. Address, postmarks, two letters bearing the dry stamp of the "School of Soreze". Paper missing at the level of the wax stamps with loss of text, some tears at the margins. To Sophie Swetchine, July 2, he laments that he no longer receives correspondence from her, from M. Chernet and from Mlle de la Tour du Pin. He explains that "(...) your letters will have been stopped on Austrian territory which is the most execrable violator of correspondence in the world (...)" he then lists his meetings in Rome, the Princess Borghese, Viscount Mortemart, Marshal de Bourmont. On February 10, 1857, he evokes his meeting with the pope, who appreciates him in view of his attitude during this interview. He copies the end of a letter and explains "M. l'archevêque represents the old church of France, and he never aspired to anything but to re-establish it with the conditions of absolute royalty and predominant aristocracy. That is the background of his life and his hopes. How would he accept a man who believes in a new church and a new monarchy? On September 1, 1840, he thanks Sophie for her vigilance "(...) you know how many mistakes, especially in dates and quotations, can slip into a copy made by a paid man. I surrender myself to you for all this. Since you attach some value to my manuscript (...)". On July 19, he explains the tensions between France and Austria: "The purpose of Austria is well understood, without speaking about the prejudices of M. de Métternich against me personally; because France and Austria are today the two great Catholic powers; they dispute Rome (...)". On September 28, he describes the convent of Bosco in great detail, returns to his affairs in France and insists on "taking my securities for the way I want to be treated by him, that is, as a religious (...) to keep my habit publicly (...)".)", he concludes his letter by quoting a new artist that he likes "Bonnassien"; to Mr. Fidry, on March 16, he sends him his reflections after the analysis of his will "I have only found ill-conceived the article where you forbid to the persons received in your hospital the right to change religion (...) Allow me to tell you, sir, that it is an intolerant and tyrannical provision. The right to change religion is a natural and sacred right (...)"; to Count de Falloux, on May 2, he answers him about the campaign of Italy (liberation of Northern Italy from the Austrian domination) "One could clearly do its share to Austria, to separate itself from it, to declare it the author of the which weigh on Italy (...) Austria had the fatal art to mix with its cause that of the papacy (....) is this a reason to conceal, and is it not, on the contrary, a stronger reason to separate the future of the Catholics from such a harmful solidarity, not to say more (...)"; on December 7, about the work of Count de Falloux on Sophie Swetchine "this work is very engaging, very varied, naturally and spiritually written. It will make our friend known, and with her many contemporary things from a high point of view (...) While reading you, I admired how God brings men together, and how marvelous it was that he had made a great Russian lady the friend of a poor French priest (...)" he goes on to congratulate the Count on his second child and specifies that S. Swetchine's prayers are surely to blame. He concludes by hoping that she will do the same for him "I don't know what this dear friend will have asked for me, and if the French Academy has entered into her memories (...)"; on June 22, 1861, very tired, he cannot write and dictates his thanks for the portrait of Madame Swetchine that he discovers in Sorèze "I have placed it in my room so that when I get up and go to bed, I have it constantly in front of me. (...) This image will be present to me at the hour of my death and will sustain me by the memory of a friendship which was so lively and so Christian (...)"; SWETCHINE Sophie (1782-1857) autograph letter to "l'abbé Lacordaire", Paris, October 31 [1836]. 3 pp. in-8. Address, postal marks, broken armorial wax seal. Missing paper at the level of the wax seal (outside the text) and a missing word, due to the acidity of the ink. She announces to him "I did not say anything to you about the new threat of M. de La Mennais, because I always hoped that we would escape from it, it is not so, nothing can stop it (...) Be quiet, we are watching for you, you will have the work as soon as it will have appeared and all that I will be able to know about it before its publication (...)"<