David acknowledges Brute's letter of December 10 and wishes him a happy new year. He wishes this also to Father John Dubois, Father John Hickey and Mother Rose and all the other sisters. Brute told him that Dubois has suppressed the title Mother for that of superior. David expresses his disapproval of the change. Father Charles Nerinckx is content with the name of Mother in his institute. David would not permit this change at Nazareth. David sends Brute his pamphlet as Brute desires. It is not a grand work, since it was done in snatches between interruptions. He believes it is sufficiental sound. He has had it printed at Louisville where there is hope that the Catholics will pay half the cost and keep half the copies. They did not and he had to pay $13. He was not able to correct the proofs and arranged for another to do it but the printer would not agree and there are mistakes. He has corrected the worst of errors but some have escaped him. Father Jean Tessier says he will sell some in Baltimore but there is the problem of sending them there. It is Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget who wants to send the young man to Baltimore to become a physicist or a mathematician. David would rather have a thelogian for the diocese. David has yielded to authority. Providence has sent them a treasure from Rome in the person of Father Francis Patrick Kenrick who is Irish only in his origin. A man of piety and learning 24 years old, he will take David's class in theology and that in French taught by Father Guy Ignatius Chabrat whom Flaget will now send to Vincennes now that Dubourg has withdrawn his men from there. Father Gabriel Richard has come to visit them. He has broken his leg in a fall from his horse and was detained at Vincennes for two or three weeks. He has been at their seminary nearly a month, where he has been very useful. He taught mathematics to some seminarians who had talent. His leg is nearly healed and will soon return to Detroit. His enemies have profited by his absence and a judge has imposed on his damages of $1100. Duclaux says that if he is not wanted at Detroit he can return. But Detroit is no longer under Flaget but belongs to the diocese of Ohio whose bishop, Father Edward Fenwick has arrived yesterday evening at St. Rose he is to be consecrated by Flaget who is away for a few days. They are establishing a school for boys under Father William Byrnes. The purpose of the school will be to teach them their religion and prepare them for first communion. They have 60 students, including 30 boarders. They are also to commence a society of lay brothers for the service of the missions. The first two work in the kitchen at the seminary in place of the negress. They want to do the same thing at St. Joseph and he hopes they will not delay. They are embarrassed about the debts of the cathedral. They did not obtain much from France, just books ornaments and chalices. Father Nerinckx brought 700 masses which they cannot say easily. He and the Bishop are in good health. Both are active. David can mount a horse and ride for 20 or 30 miles without too much fatigue. :: II-3-o - A.L.S. - French - 3pp. 4to. 7