To the Minister, Count Clemente Solaro della Margherita
E I, 178
Application for financial assistance to resolve serious financial hardship
Turin, 5 January 1854
Your Excellency,
Although I have never asked Your Excellency for assistance, the part you play in many charitable works and the serious need I find myself in make me hope that you will kindly read what I am about to say.
The increase in the price of all kinds of food, the growing number of ragged and abandoned young people, the decrease in the many donations that private individuals used to give me and which they are now unable to do, have placed me in such dire straits that I do not know how to get out of them; without counting many other expenses, the baker’s bill for this quarter alone amounts to over 1,600 francs, and I still do not know where to get a penny: yet they must eat; and if I deny a piece of bread to these young people who are in danger and at risk, I expose them to grave danger of soul and body.
In this exceptional case, I have deemed it appropriate to commend myself to Your Excellency, that you may grant me whatever assistance you deem appropriate in your charity, and commend me to those benevolent persons whom you consider are inclined, in your wisdom, to carry out such works of charity.
This is not a matter of helping a particular individual, but of offering a piece of bread to young people whom hunger puts at the greatest risk of losing their morality and religion.
Convinced that you will kindly consider my unfortunate circumstances, I assure you that I will keep you in fond memory, and wishing you and your entire respectable family all the best from the Lord, I consider it a great honour to be able to call myself
Your Excellency’s
most obliged servant,
Fr John Bosco
P.S.
1. Should your charity deem it appropriate to make any donation in this case, you may, if you so judge, give it to the worthy Fr Caffasso.
2. You are also respectfully invited to a religious drama taking place tomorrow at half past one in the Oratory of St Francis de Sales.
