Carroll acknowledges with pleasure Levadoux's letters of Mar. 1 and April 24 and with the latter the bill of exchange on Mr. Bell of Philadelphia for $200, which he has given to Father Leonard Neale. Carroll thanks Levadoux for the exactness with which he has carried out his duties and taken care of the affairs of the church in those distant parts. Since he feels that he cannot take care of Vincennes and the Illinois country Carroll intends to pout Father Jean Rivet in charge and let him establish himself at Vincennes or at Prairie De Rocher when Father Gabriel Richard leaves there to aid Levadoux. Since Rivet does not know sufficient English for Prairie, he intends to have Father Leandre Lussonc, formerly at Fort Louis in Santo Domingo who had been active near Baltimore for over a year, to replace Father Richard. Carroll could give him a helper but a letter from Richard disturbs him. The letter treats of Father Paul de Saint Pierre whom the habitants of Kaskaskia have elected their pastor without right to do so. Some evil persons in the congregation have suggested this. Carroll thinks that their pretentions should not be granted. St. Pierre has been summoned by his Bishop to go to New Orleans, Richard thinks that his obedience to his bishops gives St. Pierre justification. However, Carroll will be relieved of a cause of anxiety by his departure. St. Pierre has taken himself to St. Genevieve. If his is condemned, there will be sufficient reason to refuse him to Kaskaskia, but it is important to let the habitants know that they do not have the right to nominate their own pastor. He sees in their action a move against the zeal of Levadoux and Richard. Carroll approves of the eulogy Levadoux gave concerning the recent president George Washington, and his giving copies of it to the officers who asked for it. Levadoux as vicar general did not have to wait for Carroll's approval. If he had come across it by accident he might have printed it but to do so now would seem an affectation. However, he will render an account of it to the Secretary of War and possibly to President Washington himself. Father John Cheverus whom Carroll had destined for Riviere au Raisin met with so much opposition on the part of Father Francis Matignon who demanded his retention that Carroll found it impossible to move him. Carroll is looking around for another priest who knows French and English and will probably have him ready when the bill of exchange on R. Bell is due. Carroll had talked with the Secretary of War and given him Levadoux's information on Michilimakinac, especially on the importance of keeping the friendship of the savages by supplying them with a Catholic priest. Congress is so jealous of the powers of the secretary that it will not provide the money to pay the costs of a missionary at the post. It is possible that something can be done through Mr. Rivardi who has been named commandant, but Carroll does not have much hope. If Rivardi is still at Detroit with his wife Levadoux is to tell him to urge the necessity of a missionary in his letters to the Secretary of War. Father Richard, in his letters of Mar. 23 and April 2, did not mention the marriage case that Nicholas Jarrott had detailed to Levadoux and hence Carroll thinks the case has subsided. Levadoux has never acknowledged the letters Carroll has sent by way of Fort Pitt and he wonders if he had received them. He is impatient to see a regular courier established between Philadelphia and Detroit. A large package which Carroll wrote to Levadoux in September of last year came to Richard who can give it to Levadoux if a successor comes to replace him. Carroll has noted with satisfaction the number of paschal communions which Levadoux had given by the time he wrote. He has the same marriage problem as Levadoux, especially of those who marry again without moral certainty of the death of their spouses. They should be made to separate or be excluded from the sacraments. In Quebec they are interdicted from entering the churches but that can be left to Levadoux's prudence. Some theologians allow some exceptions but he prefers the above practice. Before receiving Levadoux's letter, Carroll had always believed that the discipline of the Council of Trent had been admitted into the Diocese of Quebec but if it has not been, Levadoux should regard marriages before the judge as valid but sacrilegious and that for the respectability they should go before a priest. One thing however, he asks Levadoux to not relax. He should require public penitence before the congregation of those who get married before a heretical preacher or before a judge without absolute necessity. letter apparently incomplete :: III-2-f A.L. 4pp. 8vo. French