In their correspondence, Sophie reproached Axel for his sexual relationship to Eleanore Sullivan out of consideration for the feelings of Marie Antoinette: "I truly hope that she will never find out about this, for it would give her great pain", and: "Think of Her, the poor one, spare her such mortal sorrows!" Out of consideration of the reputation of the late queen Marie Antoinette, the correspondence of Axel von Fersen was later censured and in some extent even burned when it included material which was considered to be harmful to the reputation of the late queen.