Mouret, Father C., Plaquemine, Louisiana, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1851 May 26

Mouret received Blanc's letter of the 22nd this morning. The little orphan girl arrived on the boat replacing the Gypsi last week. Mr. Fourrier is deeply grateful; he will take care of her education and Mouret will prepare her for First Communion. Nothing has been done about the cemetery. If a difficult case comes up, Mouret will write to Blanc. But things are as they were at Blanc's visit and all is going better and better. About a month ago, Mouret made an announcement citing Articles 4 and 5; he said that burials of the poor would be gratis expect if they wanted a grave set aside in which case the fees set by the former members of the congregation and approved by the Bishop, would apply. Before making this announcement, Mouret had the advice of Messrs. Labauve, Desobry, etc. The three altars of the church are marbled. Everyone wants the church enlarged. Their singing is going well and he hopes their organ will be in place in a few days; they wrote from Cincinnati. They are prepared to pay cash; there are voluntary subscriptions. The parishioners of Plaquemine are so well disposed that Mouret would not ruffle them about the graves, pews, etc. Mouret was asked for last week at West Baton Rouge to hear some confessions for Easter duty. Father Francis Xavier Brunet 's health is not the best. He finds this parish very hard for him. Mouret urged him to stay there and to come to see him from time to time. This parish cannot be without a priest; Brunet will remain until Blanc can replace him. :: VI-1-a A.L.S. French 4pp. 8vo.