Hardey, R.S.C., Madame Mathilde?, Albany, New York, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1852 October 24

She profits by a happy occasion to thank Blanc for his visit in May. Mrs. Kennedy, mother of one of the Ladies of the Sacred Heart of Manhattanville is leaving tomorrow for New Orleans and will bring this letter and a purse which Hardey asks Blanc to accept as a token of her thanks for his kindnesses when she was in Louisiana. She was one of the first to make her final vows to Blanc; she hopes he will always count her as one of his daughters of St. Michael. Mother Anna du Rousier, their Superior Vicar, arrived from France with four persons, one of whom was sent to Buffalo; the three others to different houses in the province. Hardey no longer is in the frozen regions of Lake Erie but at Albany with Mother Ellen Jennings, R.S.C., and the novice who made her vows in France. They began a little foundation in September. They have 8 pupils in a semi-boarding school. They come at 8 and leave at 5. Their house, for which they paid 11,000 piastres, is in Pearl Street, the most fashionable of the city and across from the most famous Protestant Academy of New York. People come to their house, thinking it is this Academy. The other day a lady asked to see Mr. and Mrs. Sacred Heart; it was something about her husband's tomb. Their biggest sacrifice is being deprived of religious services; on Sundays they have a low Mass. Bishop John McCloskey is very kind to them; he comes himself to hear their confessions. At Buffalo, the cholera took three. For three weeks, the Superior, Mother Catherine Cruice, R.S.C. was between life aad death. This circumstance brought them a visit from Hardey's sister, Madame Aloysia Hardey, R.S.C. ?, who spent 10 days at Buffalo with Cruice. Yesterday Madame Holmes, R.S.C. , left Buffalo and returned to Manhattanville for her health. On leaving Buffalo, Blanc asked Hardey if it was true that they went out on the street. She replied that they did not go for walks in the streets. She could not explain at that time; here is the explanation now. They did go out and they made purchases in the stores; never before Cruise's arrival and only during Hardey's sister's absence in France, for after her arrival, Hardey wrote her everything. Cruice thought she was doing a good thing, for in a foundation one can go out. They did so here in Albany with permission. Hardey obeyed. On September 25, Madame Boudreau R.S.C.J. sailed for France. The cathedral of Albany is to be consecrated on November 21. All the bishops in the Union have been invited. How happy they would be if Blanc accepted the invitation. He would like their little chapel which is admired by all who see it. The only ornament is a picture of the Sacred Heart; but the face is so severe. It reminds her of Calomb, the dentist. If Mr. Callot came through Albany, Hardey is almost sure that compassion would make him substitute another. She has heart that Father Napoleon Joseph Perché 's health is causing anxiety. She has often asked priests here if they receive the Propagateur; they say they do not. When they are rich, they will ask to be subscribers. :: VI-1-d A.L.S. French 8pp. 12mo. 14