The brief will only be written after I shall have terminated a large work. I have to copy the entire volume of the Rules and Constitutions, because it is this copy which will be endorsed and put back into my hands. The original, to which are appended the approbations of the Bishops and the signature of the members of the Society, must remain in the archives of the Congregation of Bishops and Regulars. I am somewhat dismayed by this task; I had first had the thought of doing it myself but I fear not to be able to go quickly enough, often being obliged to go off on unavoidable errands… I am going today to get in touch with a copyist in order that he will start to work tomorrow, Monday, and that I may be able to present the manuscript at the latest next week. If he does not promise me to finish in a week, I will sacrifice everything and shut myself up in order to do this work myself, keeping at it day and night.
In his diary he records:
20: Went out early to look for a copyist but did not find one, at least not the kind I needed…all these errands weigh me down, and the idea that, without a copyist, I must transcribe two hundred pages in small format, certainly is not something to give me any great courage.
21: Copied all day long since I did not find a copyist willing to do this work in a week. They would have kept the manuscript at least three weeks and it would have cost me 30 Roman crowns, if not more. I will do it in three days and it will cost only my trouble which is actually no small matter, since I wrote for twelve hours today.
22, 23, 24: I spent three days and half a night, that is, till three o’clock, busy with copying.
25: Most of the day was again spent in writing. Petitions had to be made in two original copies, etc. I hope it will end there, since my arms are numb.
Eugene’s Diary, February 20-25 EO XVII
Writing to Fr Tempier he confided what kept him going in this task:
Although all my limbs are numb, my dear Tempier, with the penal labour that I have just undergone, I thought I would write you at least half of a sheet… I barged through this job in three days and part of the nights; I must admit it was an enormous task; I can also say that I was in it from head to toe; with head, chest, arms, hands, legs, feet and an unmentionable part of me being cruelly tried. But there remains not a trace of this temporary suffering which I was well inspired to offer to the good God, in expiation of my sins and for the good of our Society.
Letter to Fr. Tempier in Marseilles, 27 February 1826. EO VIII n. 227