Beaugier, Father A., Ville-Plate, Louisiana, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1855 May 10

Beaugier would have liked to attend the retreat but he learned that navigation was totally interrupted. He wrote 2 weeks afterwards to the vicar general and learned of Blanc's departure for Europe. He gave the vicar general details of the parish. This letter remained unanswered for 3 months. Then Beaugier gave hospitality to an Italian priest coming from Avoyelles to go to New Orleans; he took a letter again addressed to Father Stephen Rousselon, which suffered the same fate as the first. Beaugier has only good news; all is going according to their hopes among his parishioners who were to be so bad. For the first 3 months after Blanc's departure, Beaugier sang high mass with only 4 or 5 persons present. He preached as if the chapel were filled. Now the chapel is often too small. On missions they come from long distances to attend Mass. They receive him with kindness and respect. In spite of the sentiment to enlarge the chapel, Beaugier thinks it useless to think about it at present. They have promised to build another larger church next to the cemetery. There are still divisions and the chapel is in the same state as Blanc left it. No one has come to Beaugier's aid to buy the necessities for services. One great reason is that they are very poor this year. Animals are dying of thirst by the hundreds and the harvest gives poor prospects. There are 3 or 4 who dabble in Voltaire but they seem to have little weight. Beaugier is very tired when he arrives at the far end of the pinewoods but there are consolations. Almost all are people of color Negroes but although their skin remains brown, their souls will soon be white, he hopes. What has altered his health is the enforced Lent because of exorbitant prices. P.S. He begs Blanc not to forget him in his prayers and to recommend him to Rousselon. Blanc is not to forget the promise he made when Beaugier came here. :: VI-1-i A.L.S. French 4pp. folio