Beccard, Améé, St. Martinville, Louisiana, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1850 September 30

Beccard is the sacristan of St. Martin Church who once had dinner with Blanc. The last time he saw Blanc, he broached the subject of the diocesan seminary with the idea of making a request. He had never consulted Father James Fontbonne . He never dared formulate his request and would probably have been dismissed if he had not told Beccard that Blanc intended to send an assistant capable of fulfilling Beccard's functions as chanter. Beccard studied at Lyons, at Alix, and a year and a half of theology. He received the tonsure in 1842. Leaving the seminary as a teacher, he slackened off and finally quit altogether. Now he hopes to find his vocation again. He asks Blanc to reply to his request to enter the seminary at Assumption. He could not pay a high fee. He must keep the little he has to settle with his father's estate, a small sum which he advanced in the first months of his arrival. :: V-5-n A.L.S. French 3pp. 4to.