To Mr. Etienne Prieur, at the Grand Seminary of Noyon, department of the Somme.

Paris, 5 May 1818.

Sir,

You tell me, in your letter of the 24th of this month, that you are neither a sorcerer nor a magician. Who then persecuted and pursued me from October 24, 1817 until February 1, 1818, the time at which you left the Mazarin Hotel? Why didn’t you send me any news, or give me your address? You had promised to come and see me, and deliver me from all my troubles. Have you kept your word?  No, you deceived me when you left, and the kiss you gave me was that of Judas. Like him, you are a traitor. 

I believe you have visited me since that time; but not as a friend. You came to torment me invisibly, night and day.  But despite that, you’ve embraced the ecclesiastical path:  I congratulate you, and I must forgive you. No doubt you’ve embraced this state only after renouncing Satan, and all his power and works, to serve a better master. Ah! From now on I will see you only as my friend, and if I cannot see you, I hope you will write me, so that you can tell me everything I need to know. 

I wish you happiness in your new state, and every kind of satisfaction for you and your relatives. Please know that I am praying for you, in this regard, I forget neither my friends nor my enemy. 

Signed,

M.B.

[1] Department of the Somme: “Department” in this case refers to french land management departments, between towns/cities (technically “communes” and the larger regional areas.  Each has its own counsel. In 1818 they were a fairly recent development, created in 1890. Somme is one of the northernmost departments. I haven’t found any information on the seminary.