Father Pierz arrived in Sault St. Marie in a canoe, guided by five Indians. He left Grand Portage after many sorrows and much suffering. He had hoped to find some contribution in money from the Bishop as he begged him for it in his letter of Dec. 30, 1838. He has received no support whatsoever for over 2 years and he suffered great want especially in everything concerning his mission, in a country where everything is so expensive. He had described his miserable situation and the unjust persecutions from the American Fur Company in that letter of December 30 and also begged the Bishop to send that money to Mr. Or, the government agent at Sault St. Marie which the Bishop had promised to give yearly together with the $70 which he spent for the church in Sault St. Marie and another $77 for the potatoes which the Company had taken from him to pay for the church debt. He has had no answer. If the Bishop had found that letter a little unbecoming, he begs the Bishop to forgive him as he was greatly distressed at that time. Pierz lives in Sault St. Marie through the kindness of Mr. Ord where he can stay a short time. He cannot go anywhere as he has no money. He sent back the Indians as he cannot feel them and he cannot go back with them without money. Many Indians have already dispersed and it would be hard to bring them together again. The mission in Sault St. Marie is not worthy to have a priest but needs one very badly. A subscription for the support of a priest was drawn up and sent to the Bishop. However, many of such subscriptions have been made before, but the priest in Sault Ste. Marie never got more than a few fishes in the fall and a great deal of ingratitude for all his troubles. Pierz has not yet made a definite decision about his future and hopes that the Bishop will answer this letter soon. :: III-2-g A.L.S. German 2pp. 8vo.