Elaborate, Handwritten French Letter from a Catholic Bishop to His Boss

On offer is a fascination look at an example of the rich, some would say grandiloquent, language used in correspondence in the 17th through 19th centuries in France.

The letter is undated and the recipient is not identified. The letter was written within the context of the Catholic church hierarchy. Context suggests that it may be from a Bishop to a newly appointed Archbishop or more possibly a Cardinal. An excerpt of the letter follows: 

Il est naturel aux pretres et aux fideles de se rejouir a la vie ponite qui les gounevre quels ne d'avenir donc poins etre nos sentimens dans ce jour heuraux ou votre grandeur daigne nous visiter?... nous avons aujourd’hui le bonheur es la consolation de vous voir le chef es le pasteur legitime une favive et pure, une doctrine ennemie de toutes nouveauies, un zele ardent et prudent a etendre le culte de dieu, un amour constant de la discipline ecclesiastique et un attachement inviloable au succeffleur de st pierre; telles suivent monsuigneur, les vertus qui formerens le caractere de ces hommes apostoliques qui vous ont precedes dans le siege de cette metropole, vertus que nous voyons revivre aujourd'hui avec eclar dans la personne de votre grandeur…

[Translation: It is natural for the priests and the faithful to rejoice in the pontifical life that envelops them, so what are our feelings on this holy day when your greatness deigns to visit us?... we have today happiness and the consolation of seeing you the leader and the legitimate pastor, a favourable and pure doctrine, an ardent and prudent zeal to extend the cult of God, a constant love of the ecclesiastical discipline and an inviolable attachment to the successor of St. Peter;... such are, my lord, the virtues that formed the character of those apostolic men who preceded you in the siege of this metropolis, virtues that we see revived clearly today in the person of your greatness...].

For a social historian, this is a superb example of the manner in which relationships were forged and managed during a time in France when the Catholic hierarchy was a very powerful force with which to be reckoned.

The manuscript is single-sheet, double-sided letter measuring 9.5 inches by 7.25 inches. The document is in good condition. There is staining and some wear along the edges but neither impairs the text. The handwriting is quite legible.