Foltier, Father Stephen Jules, St. Martinville, Louisiana, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1854 July 3

Foltier writes from St. Martin, where he has gone to help Father Ange Marie for First Communion, to inform Blanc of a decision taken last week and already announced to his parishioners last Sunday. Fatigue forces him to leave Abbeville . Making long trips to say Mass, building a church with his own money, living in a house hotter than the prairies, with no rest at night because of the drunken people, it is too much to bear. He will pay his debts and collect what is owed to him. Even the note which Blanc signed will no longer exist. He will not have finished but will have considerably advanced the construction of a new church. There is no house for the priest. The one Foltier bought, not being paid for, will go back to the owner unless Blanc makes some decision about it. He believes his affairs will be settled around the 20th? of this month. His plan is to go then to New Orleans to see Blanc. He will say Mass every Sunday up to the time of his departure in order to force them to pay pew rent if Blanc sends a successor to Abbeville. But he cannot remain here. As the heir of Father Anthony Désiré Mègret, Blanc will have only disappointments if he accepts the rent of the land. There is no difficulty between Foltier and his parishioners. But he cannot remain here especially in complete isolation from his confreres. He hopes Blanc will not regard this as an act of disobedience and ingratitude. :: VI-1-g A.L.S. French 4pp. 8vo.