Bach, Father Ferdinand Dominic, St. Louis, Missouri, to Bishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1840 July 15

Bach is for the moment acting as secretary for Bishop Charles Forbin de Janson. Janson wants to know how Blanc is since his return; whether his group has been sick; whether Father Matthew B. Anduze, C.M. is still at the Cathedral at Father Louis Moni's house, and especially how are the Dames de la Providence. Since leaving Blanc they saw Bishops Joseph Rosati, Michael Portier, and Richard Pius Miles off to Europe on June 1. The same day Bishops John Baptist Purcell, Matthias Loras, Celestin De Helandière, de Janson, Father Stephen Theodore Badin, and Bach left for Niagara Falls. From there across Lake Erie, leaving Purcell, they stayed 8 days in Detroit. They continued by way of Lake St. Clair and Lake Huron and left Loras in Mackinac and went by Lake Michigan to Chicago where they left de la Hailandière in very bad trouble. Going across Illinois they went down the Mississippi to Dubuque, then to Prairie du Chien and even to Lake St. Croix and the Mississippi Falls. Finally they went down to St. Louis where they arrived 4 days ago. Father John Timon took de Janson to the Barrens where he may be for a week. Bach has asked Father Constantine Maenhaut to send all mail to St. Louis. If a letter has come from France Bach asks Father Auguste Jeanjean to address it to Cincinnati where they will spend some time after leaving Vincennes where they will go from St. Louis. Janson was sea sick on Lake Erie! They are to be in Montreal for the Assumption and to spend almost a month there. Bach does not believe Janson will spend another winter in America. Bach hopes to see Blanc at the beginning of October on his way to Spring Hill to begin his study of English?, ms. torn. Regards to Jeanjean, Mony, Maenhaut, Rousselon, etc. :: V-4-k A.L.S. French 4pp. 4to.