Dufour, Father Louis, Paris, France, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1851 February 24

Unforeseen circumstances are the cause of his long silence. Just when he wanted to leave, Dufour's brother fell ill and died. He was the father of a young family. Dufour returned here toward Christmas. He went here and there preaching and giving retreats, always with the refrain why put off returning to his "savages." Dufour would have been gone a month ago, if he had not wanted to wait for the Franklin which will leave for Newark on March 7. So he should be with Blanc in the first days of April. Archbishop John Baptist Purcell was in Paris for several days; he left last night for the south and from there probably will go to Rome to join Archbishop John Joseph Hughes Hugues. The Archbishop of Paris, yesterday, the anniversary of the last revolution, after officiating, went past the Bastille. He received an ovation. It will be good this year to see all this ebb and flow from afar as Blanc said? in his last letter at St. Martinville. P.S. Dufour sends his regards to Father Rousselon. Dufour thought of him yesterday at Mr. Choiselat's when he asked if there were any commissions. The reply was that there were only those for Texas. :: VI-1-a A.L.S. French 4pp. 4to.