Chavaete, Father P.S., Woumen, Belgium, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1851 January 16

Chavaetre received Blanc's power of attorney and his letter of December 5 as well as the one of December 20. He also received the lawyer's letter with an excerpt from the will and codicil. Chavaete will sell the houses as soon as possible but his notary says that Blanc must send him a special power of attorney like the sample inclosed no enclosure to pay the rights of succession at the registration which will amount to 5 percent. He also needs an extract from the will only as to what relates to the estate in Belgium. As for the dividing of the proceeds from the houses among the relatives of the deceased, Chavaete asks Blanc's opinion of those words in the will. The nearest relative is an aunt on the mother's side and three first cousins on the paternal side. There are more distant cousins but Chavaete believes they will be excluded by the closer ones. Blanc asked the amount of rent from the house reserved by an anniversary remembrance? and about 25 Masses: the rent is 45 francs a year. This house could probably be sold for 900-1000 francs. Chavaete would consent to sending $1000 to Bishop John Martin Henni of Milwaukee. Could they not move back four years the legacy of 1000 piastres for the poor of Woumen? He also thinks he should give Blanc the information found in a letter written by Father Peter Francis Beauprez, dated December 12, 1849, at Milwaukee: "I have just disposed of my estate in favor of a church being built here. The Bishop finding himself very embarrassed in fulfilling his contracts, has asked me to lend him the money and I have finally consented." Blanc asks about the hospice: the purchase of the land amounts to 22,000 francs, 1000 is already paid. The buildings will probably amount to 28,000 francs; 50,000 francs in all. As for the support of the poor the first years, since the hospice depends entirely on the Sisters under the directions of a priest director, this support will not be gratis. It is hoped that at some time the institution would be self-supporting. Chavaete asks Blanc to let him know approximately the annual revenues and at what time they would be available. :: VI-1-a A.L.S. French 4pp. 12mo.