St. Aubin, Father F. Charles Boutelou de, St. Martin, Louisiana, to Bishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1840 September 1

St. Aubin has just received a copy of the minutes of the trustees' meeting of August 30 with a letter from A. Dumartrait. This last meeting heaped ignominies on St. Aubin as did the first. He sends a copy of his reply to Dumartrait and the one Dumartrait sent him. St. Aubin has not been hindered in the functions of his ministry since being forbidden to use the presbytery and church and the taking away of the registers. He has had 50 baptisms, as many in the church as in distant houses where they invite him to say Mass. Many come to the Sacraments and to Mass. St. Aubin repeats his desire to be recalled promptly from St. Martin. There are indispensable reforms to be made among servants of the Church whose lives are scandalous. The adjustment of fees is unjust. Father Peter Francis Beauprez thinks that he would be received by the administration. If St. Aubin could only give the preference to the poor church of La Fayette! He regrets very much having opposed Blanc last year by refusing that post! He regrets that he did not beg hard enough for the Church of the Immaculate Conception of St. Mary's parish. After St. Mary's how could he be so attracted to St. Joseph's of Thibodauxville! If Blanc heard the arguments of the trustees of St. Martin's on the prerogative of bishops in the choice of pastors, he would be astounded. ` A.L.S. French 3pp. ` Enclosure: