Forcade, Theodore A., et. al.:
Annales de le Propagation de le Foi, Recueil Periodique, Des Lettres Des Eveques et des Missionnaires, des Missions des Deux Mondes, et de Tous Les Documents Relatifs Aux Missions et a L'Oeuvre de la Propagation de la Foi, Collection Faisant Suite Aux Lettres Edifiantes, Tome Dix-Huitieme (Volume 18), A. Lyon, Chez L'Editeur des Annales, 1846, small 8vo (5 1/2 x 8 1/2 in - 13.8 x 20.6 cm), blue paper boards, title and volume number on paper labels on spine, text in French, 576 pp. This is a yearly report on the various Catholic missions throughout the world. It is primarily a compilation of letters and reports submitted by the missions in the field. Most of these are dated during the period of 1844-1845. The report covers the entire world with reports from missions in China, Korea (Coree), Lieou-Kiou (Lew Chew - Loo Choo - Okinawa), Tong-King Occidental, Thailand (Siam), Inde, Syrie, Constantinople, Madagascar, United States, Canada, Australia, Iles Marquises, Wallis, Tonga, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Melanesie. There is a statistical section covering the year of 1845 which outlines the amounts spent on the various foreign missions.

The report from the mission on Okinawa (Lieou-Kiou) is of particular interest. This mission was established in May of 1844 by the French with the hope that it would give them an advantage in establishing relations with Japan. A Catholic father, Theodore A. Forcade, and his Chinese interpreter were forcibly landed on Okinawa against the will of the government by a French man-of-war. The French (Rear Admiral Cecille) believed that with Forcade on Okinawa learning the language and ways, their ultimate goal of opening trade with Japan would be facilitated. Forcade was basically restricted to a Buddhist temple called Seigen-ji. He was succeed in 1846 by other Catholic fathers (LeTurdu and Mathieu Adnet) who were also landed by a French man-of-war. The role of the French and British missionaries was the subject of extensive discussion with the Lord of Satsuma through his representative in Kagoshima. Essentially the Japanese reaffirmed the anti-Christianity policy and the presence of both missions was a constant worry for the Ryukyuan authorities.

The letter of October 12, 1845 by Forcade (pages 363-383) included in this volume probably represents the earliest published account of Okinawa written by a Westerner actually residing there and not just briefly stopping in the course of a voyage. At the time the letter was written, Father Frocade had been on Okinawa for over 16 months.

For information on the Protestant missionary, Bernard Bettelheim, who arrived on Okinawa in April of 1846, click here.

Title Page

Major Sections (numbered pages):

• Missions de L'Oceanie (1-83)
• Nouvelles Diverses (84-96)
• Missions de la Chine (97-145 , M. Pichon, M. Chauveau, M. de la Bruniere, M. Alphonse, 3 letters)
• Missions de Madagascar (146-173, M. Dalmond, R. Pere Cotain, 2 letters)
• Missions de la Nouvelle-Zelande (174-192 , M. Pompallier et al, 1 letter)
• Compte-Rendu (193-240, financial reports for 1845 - shows 9,529f.30c spent on the Diocese de Lucques (Okinawa) for the year 1845
• Missions de la Chine (241-282, P. Clavelin, 1 letter)
• Missions de la Coree (283-312, Andraeas Kimai-Kim, M. Ferreol, M. Daveluy, M. Barran, Du Bourdieu, series of extracts from letters and reports)
• Missions de L'Inde (313-345, M. Luquet, M. Jarrige, M. Bonnand, Pere Trincal, P. St.-Cyr, 5 letters)
• Missions de la Chine (346-362, M. Rizollati, 1 letter)
• Mission des Iles Lieou-Kieou (Okinawa) (363-383, M. Forcade. 1 letter, dated 12 October 1845)
• Nouvelles Diverses (384-392, 1 report)
• Missions des Etat-Unis (393-396, Concile de Baltimore, 1 report)
• Missions de L'Oceanie Centrale - Mission de la Nouvelle-Caledonie (397-419, P. Rougeyron, P. Viard, 2 letters)
• Missions de L'Oceanie Centrale - Mission de Tonga (420-441, P. Calinon, 1 letter)
• Missions du Canada (441- 465, P. Aubert, P. Laverlochere, P. Hanipaux, 3 letters)
• Nouvelle Diverse (466-472, contains "Tableau Des Nouvelaux Vicariats Apostoliques, 1840-1846" which shows Mgr Forcade the Vicaire Apostoliques for "Le Japan" covering the mission in Coree, the Iles Lieou-Tcheou, Bonines and adjacent areas)
• Missions d' Amerique (473-524)
• Missions de L'Australie - Diocese de Perth (525-546)
• Missions de L'Oceanie (547-565)
• Conclusion (566-572)
• Table du Tome Dix-Huitieme (573-576, table of contents)