Odin, C.M., Bishop John Mary, Galveston, Texas, to Bishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1847 February 24

Odin received on the "Palmetto" Blanc's last letter and he sympathizes with the sad position of Bishop John Joseph Chanche. During Odin's stay at Lyons he pleaded his cause as well as he could. The Ursulines opened their school on the 8th; today they have 42 pupils. They will soon have to restrict admission for lack of room. However, Odin fears for the future; these Sisters are weak in English. Sister St. Agnes, R.U. is weak in grammar and arithmetic; Sister St. Bruno, R.U. needs time to become a capable teacher. Odin has written to Sister Ste. Seraphine Ray, R.U. to ask her to loan them an English teacher. All the Sisters are making the greatest efforts for the success of the undertaking. Five carpenters have been working on the school since Odin's return from New Orleans. The bricks he expected were not sent. In order not to put off the building of the church any longer, Odin has contracted to buy 500,000 at $8 a thousand. Their little chapel cannot hold half their congregation. He trembles at the expense of this new building since he cannot count on the people of Galveston. There is no business; lack of a crop and the war have put them back into the poverty from which they were just beginning to emerge. He expects Father John Timon, C.M. for the third Sunday in Lent. :: V-5-g A.L.S. French 4pp. 4to.