NRA-L-000643 / 1854

Letter from Canon Giovita Riva to Rosalinda Sanguettola Principi, 16 February 1854

Canon Giovita Riva writes to Rosalinda Sanguettola Principi and her family in grief after the death of their uncle, the Bishop of Crema. He discusses his memorial eulogy, a Latin chapter letter, the election of the capitular vicar, and the sorrow of the Daughters of Charity.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000643

NRA-L-000643 image 1 showing handwritten delivery details, postal evidence, folds, sealing traces and surviving paper edges.
Image 1Address panel and postal evidence for NRA-L-000643, with the complete surviving paper condition retained.
NRA-L-000643 image 2 showing Italian handwriting on a folded manuscript sheet and its surviving physical condition.
Image 2Manuscript text of NRA-L-000643, capture 2, with folds, stains and damaged edges retained as evidence.
NRA-L-000643 image 3 showing Italian handwriting on a folded manuscript sheet and its surviving physical condition.
Image 3Manuscript text of NRA-L-000643, capture 3, with folds, stains and damaged edges retained as evidence.

Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

All' Ornatiss.ma Sig.ra la Sig.ra Rosalinda
Sanguettola Principi al Negozio San=
guettola in Carrobbio
Milano.

Address panel

English translation

To the Most Esteemed Lady, Mrs. Rosalinda
Sanguettola Principi, at the Sanguettola
shop in Carrobbio
Milan.

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

Sit Nomen Domini benedictum!

Carissima Sig.a Linda!

Non posso piú, se non sfogo il mio dolore con loro... Egl.i hanno per-
duto uno Zio amorosissimo; ma io ho perduto tutto in lui!...
Non sapeva, non credeva di amarlo tanto!... Non ho pro-
vato tanto strazio di cuore per nessuno de' miei, nemmeno
per i miei genitori... Io, lo veggo, rinnovo loro il dolore;
ma mi perdonino; ho bisogno di sfogarmi... Oh potessi
dare a tutti loro un bacio... mi parrebbe di baciare an-
cora quella cara mano... Mi permettino almeno di amarli
in vece, e luogo di lui... Io non ho piú cuore di por piede
nel Vescovado di Crema... Mi lascino rivolgere ad egli il
mio pensiero... si veggano i miei sentimenti espressi nel
misero si, ma sincero Elogio, che io tributava al Caro Def.o..
Iddio mi ajutò, che non mi scoppiasse il cuore nel scriverlo.
Scritto in due giorni, e due notti vegliate senza chiuder palpebra,
esso non fú che l'ispirazione del mio dolore. - Li prego, se
mai si stampasse (che io non so più nulla) di distribuirne
una Copia a tutti i Conventi di Milano, avendolo già do-
mandato quello di S. Michele: così anche quello di Como.
Spedisco loro quì unita una copia m.s. della Lettera Latina, che io
incaricato dal Capitolo ho scritta a tutti i Vescovi, e Capitoli
di Lombardia: il Carlino la spiegherà loro. - Ringrazio il
Signore che mi mantiene anche sano fra tante fatiche ve-
nutemi sopra in un momento. - Jeri abbiamo eletto il
Vicario Capitolare, e non avendo voluto accettare il Barboni,

Notes

Editorial notes:
The writer uses the formal, archaic third-person plural 'loro', 'Egl.i', and 'Li' to address the recipient and her family respectfully.
'm.s.' is an abbreviation for 'manoscritta' (manuscript).

Documentary page 2

English translation

May the Name of the Lord be blessed!

Dearest Mrs. Linda!

I can do no more, unless I vent my grief with you... You have lost a most loving Uncle; but I have lost everything in him!... I did not know, I did not believe I loved him so much!... I have not felt such heartbreak for anyone of my own, not even for my parents... I, I see it, renew your grief; but you must forgive me; I need to vent... Oh, if I could give you all a kiss... it would seem to me like kissing that dear hand again... Permit me at least to love you instead, and in his place... I no longer have the heart to set foot in the Bishopric of Crema... Allow me to turn my thoughts to him... may you see my feelings expressed in the poor yes, but sincere Eulogy, which I paid to the Dear Deceased.. God helped me, so that my heart did not burst in writing it. Written in two days, and two nights spent awake without closing an eyelid, it was nothing but the inspiration of my grief. - I beg you, if it should ever be printed (of which I know nothing more) to distribute a Copy to all the Convents of Milan, that of S. Michele having already requested it: as well as that of Como.
I send you here enclosed an MS [manuscript] copy of the Latin Letter, which I, commissioned by the Chapter, have written to all the Bishops, and Chapters of Lombardy: Carlino will explain it to you. - I thank the Lord who keeps me still healthy amidst so many labors that fell upon me in a moment. - Yesterday we elected the Capitular Vicar, and Barboni not having wanted to accept,

Notes

Editorial notes:
The writer uses the formal, archaic third-person plural 'loro', 'Egl.i', and 'Li' to address the recipient and her family respectfully.
'm.s.' is an abbreviation for 'manoscritta' (manuscript).

Documentary page 3

Original transcript

la Nomina cadde sull' Arciprete Fassi. - Nulla dirò delle povere
nostre Figlie della Carità; essa può immaginare la loro desolazione.
Sig.a Linda amatissima, dica a tutti i suoi, la prego, che non hanno perduto
i loro diritti sopra di me, sopra la mia casa, sopra tutto quello
che io posso. - I sensi da me espressi sono pure quelli della mia
famiglia, e delle Figlie della Carità. Dispongano di noi libera-
mente.
Li abbraccio tutti nel Signore, e la prego di partecipare a tutti
i sentimenti della mia stima. Sono

Aff.mo Amico
Canonico Giovita Riva -

Crema . il 16 . Febbrajo . 1854 .

Documentary page 3

English translation

the Nomination fell upon Archpriest Fassi. - I will say nothing of our poor Daughters of Charity; you can imagine their desolation.
Most beloved Mrs. Linda, tell all of yours, I beg you, that they have not lost their rights over me, over my house, over everything that I can do. - The feelings expressed by me are also those of my family, and of the Daughters of Charity. Dispose of us freely.
I embrace you all in the Lord, and I beg you to share with everyone the feelings of my esteem. I am

Most affectionate Friend
Canon Giovita Riva -

Crema . on the 16th . of February . 1854 .

Discovery Terms

  • Sanguettola Family Correspondence
  • Mourning and condolence
  • Bishop of Crema
  • Diocese of Crema
  • Daughters of Charity

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