Doyle, Father A., Lake Providence, Louisiana, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1851 September 29

Doyle arrived here the 18th and could not find a Catholic house to stop in or say Mass in town. He met Mr. Chisum, husband of the Catholic lady of whom Doyle spoke. She was a niece of Bishop Martin John Spalding Spaulding. She died here and her two children last summer. Her husband who is of no religion invited Doyle to his house where Doyle said Mass in the room he occupied for about a week. Then he found a German Catholic family about half a mile out of town where he since said Mass and collected the few Catholics. They applied for the church to preach in but were refused, and also the court house. The doctor who wrote Blanc so encouragingly has gone with his family to St. Louis. He borrowed money and never paid, but gambled it away. There are only 2 or 3 Catholic families in town. Two men who said they had taken a contract of public work 30 miles from here asked him to visit them but he found that it was in Arkansas. There are 2 boarding houses here; they charge $20 a month. No Catholic keeps a horse and a single ride is $1. Prospects at present are discouraging. People did not know of Dr. Dickerson writing nor expect a priest, unless to visit. They are willing but could not tell where the means would come from. Mrs. Long has not been home until within a few days; Doyle has not seen her. :: VI-1-b A.L.S. 3pp. 4to.