He would have answered Bruté's letter but he has been ill. His asthma has been severe. He has improved and can now sleep on his bed. He has received with gratitude the advice of Dr. Chatard. He does hope for a radical cure. He regards his condition as a favor from heaven that will ban any suggestion that he become a bishop. Father Felix D'Andreis added his theologians to his own. He has only the classes of English or French for the priests. When Father Charles Nerinckx returns he hopes that Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget will find a way to have Father Guy Ignatius Chabrat come to his aid. David is amazed at what Bruté tells him of the growth of unitarianism. the answer is first to defend with zeal the doctrine in sermons and writings proving the divinity of Christ. Bruté has done a good job answering the Presbyterians. Should be not do a better job in this matter. The second force to be used is the aid of heaven, and for this he proposes a confraternity of chosen souls. They could make the 40 hours in churches successively as in time of public calamity. They go on as before; Providence seems to favor John Rogers. They continue to build the cathedral. They have made the bricks for the front. The side walls are already up 9 feet. The masonry will be finished in October and the roof on by Christmas and finished in a year. The Presbyterians and the Baptists are excited and they talk of building meeting houses. Flaget pontificated and gave Confirmation at St. Thomas on Pentecost. He returned for Corpus Christi and they had a procession which he describes in detail. Millet was embarrassed to explain his letters to DuBourg. He apparently was so upset he did not realize what he was saying. He has made a fine tabernacle and other things which show that he is a fine artist. David is beginning to want the prompt return of Bishop Louis William DuBourg. Things commence at St. Louis and the communications with New Orleans are bad. If he delays longer there will be problems. Savine does not wish to be at St. Louis. Bruté should warn the bishop that if he does not come until the end of June or July there will not be enough water on the Ohio to come from Pittsburgh and that he should come on horseback with one or two companions and join those who are going to prepare the way for the rest. They will give him a welcome and he will find his workers ready to work in French and English. Father Joseph Rosati has returned from Vincennes where he went with Father Chabrat for six or seven weeks. 41 made their First Communion. Father Felix D'Andreis has very much shaken a Protestant with whom he spent the night and who invited him to return. There is hope that he and his family will be converted. But he insists that he came here only to return to Italy. The Bible Society has printed a report in which they say that two priests from Louisiana have prevented the distribution of Bibles. Father Stephen Theodore Badin has justified their action because these bibles are mutilated and mistranslated. :: II-3-n A.L.S. French 4pp. folio