Letter from CM Superior Vincent de Paul to the PF secretary [Dionisio Massari], 1652-08 - 16, Paris

Letter from CM Superior Vincent de Paul to the PF secretary [Dionisio Massari], 1652-08 - 16, Paris

Madagascar

Non-Catholic Christians

Letter from Vincent de Paul to PF, in which he discusses the conversation he had with one of the captains, who was due to leave for Madagascar. According to the captain, communication with the island has been interrupted and is not likely to be resumed any time soon, because of current situation in France; half of the merchants involved with Madagascar have already left the island for Paris, and the other half are worried about the financial cost of leaving. Vincent de Paul is concerned about the one Vincentian priest who has been on the island for three years, and whom they have not heard any news from (he is referring to Charles Nacquart, who at the time of writing, had already died). Vincent du Paul notes the possibility of passage on a Dutch ship, since the Dutch hold a nearby island, called St. Maurice [Mauritius]. The passage from the Dutch bases to the French ones would, however be difficult, both because of the geography of the islands and because of the rivalry between the Dutch and the French. If Vincent de Paul finds another way to reach Madagascar he will let PF know. The letter dated 16 August 1652. 

Additional comments

Vincent de Paul

APF SOCG 248, 125r-v

Published in P. Coste, ed., Saint Vincent de Paul: correspondance, entretiens, documents (Paris: 1920-25), vol. 4, doc. 1538, transcription faithful with the exception of minor orthography and punctuation changes. The closing formula and signature published in Coste do not appear in the original, which ends with the word "Monseigneur."

1652-08-16

Addressed to [Dionisio Massari]

French

Letter

412

Origin: Paris

Destination: Rome