Corbe, Father John, St. Mary-of-the woods, Indiana, to Father Stephen Rousselon, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1854 November 7

Only some days ago, Corbe was reminded of a bad impression given to Rousselon about him, some years ago by Sister Ann Joseph, S.P. . Corbe knew it at the time because it was reported to him and because he saw the letter of Ann Joseph to Mother Théodore Guerin, S.P. . Yesterday on the occasion of Rousselon's letter to Mother Théodore, Corbe thought that perhaps the Sisters of Providence would establish themselves quite soon, in the diocese of New Orleans and so they would have some contacts. So he thought he would rectify the error. Here are the facts; In Mother Théodore's absence, Ann Joseph became very evil with the Sisters in charge of the Community to the point where several time they would like to have sent her away. Corbe prevented them, not because of any authority, because he had none, for he was only the Sisters' confessor, but by advice. However it came to the point where they decided to send her away. So one Monday morning, a Sister came to inform Corbe of this decision several minutes before her departure. Corbe was extremely annoyed by this but he could do nothing. To the Sister who told him, he said: "If I Could say all that I know, there would be reasons enough to send her away. " The Sister relayed these words to Ann Joseph who though that Corbe was alluding to confidences made in the confessional or elsewhere. She was mistaken. He was referring to something a Bishop had said against her and to what a priest from around Louisville had written, and who had forbidden Corbe to mention their names or even the things, saying that they gave the information only for Corbe's use in direction. He never found out if the reports were true; it was not necessary. Ann Joseph left that morning and it was only after her departure that Corbe sent hr, by the boy who escorted her, a letter from Rousselon that Corbe received but had not had a chance to give her. But he was not to see her again and she left under this bad impression which she must have communicated to Rousselon. Corbe does not condemn her for appearances were against him, but he had no thought of making the allusion which she assumed. :: VI-1-h A.L.S. French 4pp. 12mo.