Genella, Antonio, Vicksburg, Mississippi, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1856 November 17

In justice to the Catholics of Vicksburg and friends, Genella is bound to address Blanc. Blanc's letter of May 20 was handed to Genella by Father George Cooper . A Catholic gentleman called on Genella on the arrival of the boat saying there was a priest on board for their place with a letter from Blanc. Genella procured a carriage and called on board the boat but was told no such name was on the register. But they found Cooper and took him to Genella's house. Cooper said he was quite sick but he looked like a man up from a drunken spree. In less than a week, nothing was good enough for Cooper. They had spent $500 to have the house fixed up with carpets and furniture and paid him $50 a month in advance. In less than a month he wanted $60 and then $100. The trustees said that they could not as there were a great many debts on the church. He went into a rage and ordered them all out of the house saying he would take over the temporal as well as the spiritual affairs of the church. He told Genella that he would change the trustees but Genella said that he was only the treasurer and was out a lot of money and that if the trustees were changed, he would give up also. After this Cooper made friends with the trustees. Genella and Mrs. Genella knew more than a great many about Cooper's vulgar talking and drinking as he called on them every day. Last Tuesday when he left on the Eclipse for Natchez, Genella heard that Cooper was drunk before arriving at Grand Gulf. Yesterday Cooper told the congregation from the altar that there was no power in Bishop or Pope to send him away, that someone had written Blanc false reports. Genella hopes he will leave soon. The trustees willingly will give him $100 to go away. :: VI-1-k A.L.S. 4pp. 12mo.