The Influence of Vincent's Order
This letter, sent by Vincent to Firmin Get, the Superior of the Congregation in Marseilles, was written on December 27, 1658, two years prior to the Saint’s death. By this time, Vincentian outposts in North Africa were fairly well-established. Vincent had stationed Lazarists in Tunis and Algiers beginning in 1645. Among the most successful were Philippe le Vacher, lay brother Jean Barreau, and eventual French consul Jean le Vacher. Many others died from disease during their time with the slaves in North Africa.
This group Tunisian slaves (or prisoners) in Marseilles were to be used by the Congregation in exchange for funds for the North African missions, or bartered for release of Christian slaves in Barbary. This situation was quite common, and preferable in many cases due to the relative high monetary price of slaves. Vincent often writes of a lack of funds for buying the freedom of slaves, and tells his Barbary operatives to focus instead on ministering to those Christians in bondage.
The full letter reads:
Monsieur,
The grace of O[ur] L[ord] be with you forever!
May God be glorified for the results of your mission and for your safe return! If the troubles persist, it will be well for you not to go far away.
I am glad that the Turks from Tunis are in your hospital, awaiting the order and opportunity to be sent back. This will then give you the means of writing to our dear confreres in Barbary and perhaps to give them some help. See if that can be done safely. I think you are right in saying that sending things by the Spanish Mercedarian Fathers is very uncertain.
In my last letter to M. Le Vacher, I included a note from Madame Fouquet stating that the Administrators of the hospital for the captives may take two thousand livres to continue assistance to the patients, and they should draw a bill of exchange on M. Bruand who is with the Attorney General. I will send the letter from the Administrators to the Duc de Richelieu for the new election.
We do not yet have the results of the consultation from the Sorbonne on the case you sent us. I will have someone request them at the first opportunity.
I have nothing to tell M. Le Vacher, except that I received his letter.
I am glad M. Huguier has returned to Toulon and M. Parisy to Marseilles.
I am writing to you in haste because I received your packet just at the time my letters had to be sent to the post.
I am, in O[ur] L[ord],
Monsieur,
Your most humble servant,
Vincent Depaul,
i.s.C.M