Legrand, Father F., Pont de Breaux, Louisiana, to Father Stephen Rousselon, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1848 April 18

Legrand wrote the Bishop on March 22 but received no reply. He has done a little good here. He is preparing 50 children for First Communion to be held on Ascension Day for which the Jesuits have promised him one of their priests. He is also teaching catechism to a number of adults 20 to 35 years old. Some have found him a little severe in confession but they are used to deplorable indulgence. They are eager for instruction. The crowd grows from Sunday to Sunday. They advise him to enlarge the church but he would rather build a new one. But how to do it? His parishioners are not millionaires. Two are really rich and one is liberal but the other's generosity is problematical. The money of the subscription has been realized within a few piastres. Their debts are paid and they will have about 15 piastres to the good. Father Louis Dufour gave him $18 to buy a tabernacle. Legrand does not know the source. In all Dufour has promised him $82. With this they could continue the work on the presbytery. Before he leaves Dufour has promised to give the sermon at the blessing of the new cemetery. Their relationship is good. When he leaves, Rousselon is to let him know the Bishop's decision regarding the limits of the two parishes. The limits are those of the civil districts. For a long time the eminent inhabitants of Pont de Breaux wish to be buried at St. Martin. The interests of the first parish would be gravely injured if the fees all went to the pastor of the second. Attached is a description no enclosure of the different things for divine services, for whose payment Legrand counts on a collection he will soon take up. He asks Rousselon to give Mr. Cailler what he has at his disposal and to point out where Cailler could get the others. In pencil, in another hand St. Bt. Belle Isle, Wednesday at 10. $30 received. :: V-5-i A.L.S. French 4pp. 4to.