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My dear brethren, and you above all, my dear Sons, you who have come to occupy a place of honour in the army which has been formed in accordance with the solemn wish to the Powers of the civilized world against African slavery, I cannot think of delivering a discourse to you, but I would blame myself if I did not, in the name of religion, in the name of France, render public homage to your heroic selfsacrifice.

As for the Capuchins, the first condition I would impose on the government, as I have already stated, would be to respect all their established rights and to touch not a single one of them.

Reverend Father Bresson, who will hand over this letter to you, will explain to you that the council of the Society and I myself have decided to send him on a special mission to Zanzibar. He will shortly be leaving for this difficult post.

You must keep in mind, on the one hand, that the money you are spending like this has been saved with enormous effort often by poor working women or servants in Europe and, on the other, that events now looming could come and suddenly deprive you of all your resources. Then, what would you do? So, save as much as possible.