Anduze, Father Matthew Bernard, New Orleans, Louisiana, to Bishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1842 August 21

In the serious circumstances in which they find themselves Anduze believes it his duty to declare the truth. When Blanc called Anduze to his house and in the presence of Dr. Labatut told Anduze that the offence he had received was not intentional, Anduze took him at his word. Since then Anduze learned how a "grateful friend" had pressed for the appointment of Father Stephen Rousselon by the exaggerated report of the lists of signatures in favor of Father Constantine Maenhaut. Blanc told Anduze that he had not wanted to do this without consulting Anduze, and that he wished to name him but that his hand was forced. Anduze assured the public, shocked by a crying injustice, that he had never had any ambition to be pastor at New Orleans. He expressed his opinion openly even before Father Louis Moni's death. When the clandestine appointment of Rousselon surprised the public, the trustees were indignant, believing they had some rights. They say that Anduze stirs up the trustees. Is it he who exposes what Blanc had asked to be kept secret? Does Blanc want witnesses ready to swear to what Father Edward D'hauw told them, "We have labored a long time; they will drive us out." Is it not spread about that Anduze killed Moni and was not Anduze obliged to refute these lies by a correspondence of 29 letters written from Mobile? Did not Father Napoleon Joseph Perché? say to S _____ I. "The bishop and I have never liked Moni." To say that Anduze viewed Rousselon's appointment with pleasure would be to lie. He considers the appointment null and he believes any ecclesiastical tribunal would agree with him. In his interview in Labatut's presence, Blanc showed the greatest confidence in him and a few days later he received a letter containing the most humiliating orders. This to a priest of 22 years who had always fulfilled the most difficult tasks with absolute submission, to a priest 48 years old, in the United States since he was 19. The letter of the 17th has just struck the last blow by notifying him that he had just installed Rousselon as pastor of the Cathedral and that the theology would have certain duties as outlines. Baptisms and marriages were prohibited to him except those special ones where the parties wanted only Anduze. Father Felipe Ascensio is in no worse position and he performs French, English, German, etc. baptisms. The first case is that of Mr. Bernadas whose marriage was to be in Spanish and Anduze had to send them to Maenhaut. It is not Blanc who would so humiliate an old priest of the diocese and the proof is that Blanc signs "With affectionate sentiments." Anduze believes in the sincerity of that declaration and he believes that the one who made it did not dictate the humiliating conditions in the letter of the 17th. Blanc will find no resistence in Anduze. He will appeal to Rome against any abuse which could come from misguided authority. He expects only goodness and justice from Blanc when he consults his own inclinations, but in his nervous and irritable state Anduze fears that bad impressions make him act precipitately. :: V-4-m A.L.S. French 12pp. 8vo.