Barthe, Father Edward, Houma-Terre Bonne, Louisiana, to Bishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1849 September 6

Barthe received Blanc's letter of August 29 and thanks him for the $10 for Mass intentions as well as for his approval of Barthe's management of the parish during the year. He told the administrators of the church of Blanc's intention of visiting Houma and giving Confirmation. But they find that since the church is not in a state worthy to receive him, they ask Blanc to put off his visit until next year. Several cases of small pox have shown up among the negroes but without malignity. But in spite of this apparent well-being among the Creoles, there is less ease than one would think. Less than two years after building a court house, not yet all paid for, they built a record office and prison which cost 12,000. This year this parish must build a schoolhouse for each of its 18 districts so that in 4 years the debts were $18,000. So Blanc can see that the building of the church will remain in its swaddling clothes. Barthe lets Blanc see this so that he can judge. V-5-l - A.L.S. - French - 2pp. - 4to. - {3}