Transcription
Original in Latin · manuscript
Reading checked by Yves d’Horrer; words still uncertain remain followed by [?].
The edges of the sheet are cut off in the photo; passages in square brackets are restored or missing. The beginning is confirmed by the Italian copy in DOC 24.
Original text (Latin)
Gregorius PP. XVI
[Dilecto Filio Equiti Mariae Josepho de Horrer, Strasburgi]
[Dilecte Fili,] salutem et Apostolicam Benedictionem. Amplissima honorum munera ac praecipua Nostrae benevolentiae [testimonia ii profecto cla]rissimi viri jure meritoque sibi comparant, qui generis nobilitate ac virtutum laude spectati et Cath[olicae religionis studio fla]grantes, huic Petri Cathedrae firmiter adhaerentes, de hac Apostolica Sede praeclare mereri summopere cura[nt. …] Te, rebus optimis institutum, egregiisque dotibus ornatum, virtutis ac religionis laude cuique probatum, [huic Petri] Cathedrae penitus addictum, omni quidem cura, diligentia, contentione nihil inexpertum reliquisse, [ut de hac Apostolica] Sede optime mereri posses. Quamobrem aliquam Nostrae in Te tuamque familiam voluntatis sign[ificationem libenti] animo tribuendam censuimus, ut tua soboles majore fulgeat honore, ac palam testemur Te de [hac Petri Ca]thedra vel maxime meritum esse. Splendidiore ergo Te honore decorare volentes, et a quibusvis excomm[unicationis …] aliisque ecclesiasticis censuris, sententiis et poenis quovis modo et quacumque de causa latis, si quas forte [incurreris, hujus tantum] rei gratia absolventes et absolutum fore censentes, Te tuosque posteros legitimos et naturales, dummodo […] deficiant, his Litteris, Auctoritate Nostra Apostolica, Aulae Nostrae Lateranensis et Palatii Apostolici [Comites facimus, creamus et nomin]amus, Nobisque concedimus, ut hujusmodi titulo etiam in Apostolicis Litteris publicisque tabulis appella[ri, omnibusque] juribus, honoribus, privilegiis, indultis cum hoc titulo conjunctis uti et frui possitis, quemadmodum alii C[omites …] vel ex jure et consuetudine utuntur, fruuntur, vel uti ac frui possunt et poterunt, citra tamen […] [Concilii Tri]dentini, hujus Sedis Auctoritate confirmato. Non obstantibus Constitutionibus et Sanctionibus Apostolicis [ceterisque contrariis qui]buscumque.
Datum Romae apud S. Petrum sub Annulo Piscatoris die XXVI Januarii MDCCC[XXXVI], Pontificatus Nostri Anno [quinto].
English translation
Gregory XVI, Pope
[To Our beloved son the knight Marie Joseph de Horrer, in Strasbourg]
Beloved Son, greetings and Apostolic Blessing. The highest honours and the special marks of Our goodwill are rightly and deservedly obtained by those eminent men who, distinguished by the nobility of their birth and the renown of their virtues, and ardent for the Catholic religion, firmly attached to this Chair of Peter, take the greatest care to deserve well of this Apostolic See. […] You, brought up in the best principles, endowed with remarkable qualities, recognised by all for your virtue and piety, entirely devoted to this Chair of Peter, have left nothing untried, with care, diligence and perseverance, to deserve well of this Apostolic See. We have therefore judged it right to give, with a willing heart, a sign of Our goodwill towards you and your family, so that your descendants may shine with greater honour and so that We may publicly testify that you have deserved very well of the Chair of Peter.
Wishing therefore to adorn you with a more splendid honour — and absolving you, for this purpose only, from any excommunication and other ecclesiastical censures, sentences and penalties you might have incurred — by these Letters and by Our Apostolic authority We make, create and name you and your lawful and natural descendants, provided that […] do not fail, Counts of Our Lateran Court and of the Apostolic Palace; and We grant that you may be called by this title, even in Apostolic Letters and public deeds, and enjoy all the rights, honours, privileges and favours attached to this title, as other Counts […] enjoy or may enjoy them, without prejudice however to […] of the Council of Trent, confirmed by the authority of this See. Notwithstanding any Apostolic Constitutions and Sanctions and anything else to the contrary.
Given at Rome, at Saint Peter's, under the Fisherman's Ring, on 26 January 1836, in the fifth [?] year of Our pontificate.