Abstract
Three letters from Francesco Cellini, a Vincentian novice, and his confrere, Filippo Borgna, a Vincentian student with vows, are given or summarized here. In 1818, Cellini and Borgna made an eighty-eight-day voyage from Livorno, Italy, to the United States. Cellini wrote an account to a friend in Rome, and Borgna largely copied this in his letter, perhaps to ensure that one of their texts would survive the trip back to Italy. These are the only known detailed records of the Vincentians’ second journey to the US and reinforce records kept by Felix De Andreis and Joseph Rosati, who came two years before. These accounts all detail storms at sea and observe the US’s religious liberty and pluralism. The Cellini letters discuss the beauty of American landscapes and nature. John Rybolt adds, “Cellini’s emphasis on the saints as protectors and the devil as the source of the problems during their journey is unique to his account. Borgna’s letter adds valuable information on their travel arrangements after arriving in the New World. Additionally, the accounts of the first and second voyages clearly depict the challenges of reaching the new American mission on its western frontier.” Biographical information about both Vincentians is provided.