Doyle, Father A., Milliken's Bend, Louisiana, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1851 February 7

The bearer, Phillip Meahar, Esquire and lady are going down to the city. Doyle has not opened the church as yet. He says Mass at Mr. Minnis 's house and preaches at the school house. He has had only 5 communicants; one of them was Mrs. Briscoe Briscow from Richmond. He baptized 2 adult slaves and married them with the consent of their masters. Doyle does not think there are more than 12 Catholics in this parish. Many are now going down to the city to hear Jenny Lind sing and spend some hundreds of dollars and will not trouble to come to Mass on Sundays. Doyle fears it will be a loss of time to keep a priest with them. The vestments here are not fit to use; they told Doyle that Blanc had promised to give some. On two Sundays Mr. Fitzwilliams served Mass but said he did not like to do it. And he is one of the best of the Catholics here; this will give Blanc some idea of their sentiments on religion. Doyle has written before. If he neglects to tell the people the truth, they may say of him as they now say of the priest who was here last year, that they would have been better without him. P.S. He would like to have the extent of the faculties given him, in writing. :: VI-1-a A.L.S. 3pp. 4to.