Dumartrait, A., St. Martinville, Louisiana, to Father Auguste Jeanjean, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1840 June 9

Dumartrait informed the trustees of the letter Jeanjean wrote in reply to a letter which Dumartrait sent to Bishop Anthony Blanc. They regret Blanc's absence as they thought he would replace Father John Francis Brasseur who left without letting the congregation know. They did not know that Brasseur was one of the priests who do not belong to the clergy of the diocese and that the Bishop could not retain him. In the 4 years and 2 months that Brasseur was pastor here, he had a respectable income; they had proposed other arrangements in place of his fees and he would have accepted them if he had stayed. They wish to have their pastor live honorably and independently; the trustees have passed a resolution fixing the annual stipends and other fees, as follows: 1. $1200 a year for the pastor, payable quarterly; 2. When the pastor is called to the country for a marriage, he is to have $20 for each ceremony, not including the fees for dispensations, etc. which go to the bishopric. 2! $10 for baptisms in the country or village. 3. $1 for each Mass said during the week in the church. All the casual fees for burials, anniversary services, marriages and baptisms in the church belong to the fabrique. The upkeep of the church will be furnished by the congregation; the presbytery will continue to be fittingly furnished at the expense of the fabrique. They will learn with great pleasure of the Bishop's return and that he will choose a priest for this church who by his experience and manners will win the esteem of his parishioners. :: V-4-j A.L.S. French 4pp. 4to.