Mégret, Father Anthony Désiré, Vermillionville, Louisiana, to Bishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1848 June 18

Mégret received Blanc's letter of May 2. He gives the financial report of the church at Vermillionville. Returning to his church at the end of 1846, Mégret had to renew all the fence around the cemetery, garden, and presbytery. He lists all expenditures. His plan to withdraw is positive. He can not stay long at Lafayette ; he will stay until Blanc replaces him. He does not know Blanc's priests but it should bé someone like Father Claude Anthony Tholomier, Father J.E. Blin, etc. Mégret knows that Blanc will get on better with his successor, than with Mégret, about the convent and building of the church. Mégret had thought of moving to St. Martinville. On reflection he will not do so. Probably he will return to his country. He is not remouncing the ministry; if Blanc has a place which suits him he would not refuse it. He has had the chancel and sacristy plastered in the church at Abbeville . The pastor could live in the sacristy while waiting for the presbytery to be completed. He has left for the pastor to collect, the money from the pews rented at Easter which will amount to about $500. Having given some 40 piastres to the Vesta to buy lumber at Bayou Chico and bring it to Abbeville, to finish the presbytery, they kept the money and probably they will lose it. There was a new election at Abbeville. Mégret showed his contract with the parish bearing on the irremovability of the seat of justice placed at Abbeville in the first election. Mégret has just finished with the Jesuits at Grand Coteau. He sold them a slave for $1000. But as they bought him only as a favor to Mégret, and since the slave is worth much more, Mégret reserved the liberty of reclaiming him and returning the $1000. Father John Francis Abbadie, S.J. came to Vermillionville and went to several houses and was concerned with the price at which Mégret sold his slaves, etc. P.S. He still has the framework of the church at St. Martin. It sometimes rains in a little at the convent. :: V-5-i A.L.S. French 4pp. 4to.