Chambost, Father Charles, Plaquemine, Louisiana, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1858 July 2

Before a priest could stay here, there must be a presbytery, a temporary church and a salary. And where will they get all this. Mr. Desobry asked this this morning. They recognized the difficulties? when Blanc was here; now they are resuming the same insults. Messrs. Labauve and Trinidad are leaving for the other side of the lake to spend part of the summer. Belfon Marionneaux will deal with these men who wanted to make him lose what the college owed him. Messrs. Desobry, Gallagher, Dardenne, and Michael Schlatre, Jr . urge Chambost to tell Blanc that they will never serve again with this triumvirate. The elder Michael Schlatre and John Schlatre are retired. Messrs. Talbot and Downer whose families are Catholic, and other Americans want Blanc to call a meeting to set forth the actual state of things and the remedy. Desobry refuses to act as treasurer and they do not want to entrust the money to the others. Chambost may have said something unpleasant in his letter day before yesterday. But about the ordination of Benoit Chambost? their cousin, Chambost maintains it is so. Father Auguste Chambost must go — their old father, the orphans, and the settling of their affairsoblige him to. Benoit, ordained soon, even in August, he would send him to Jackson to learn to speak English, which he reads and writes very well. Chambost has no confidence in Father Hippolite Gache, S.J. as a theologian. When Gache was at Baton Rouge he understood nothing of its application; the lessons he gave Mr. Doyen are proof of that. If Blanc agrees to Chambost's request he will get out of Baton Rouge and in case he has to make a trip he will arrange all his affairs beforehand. If it cannot be accomplished, it will be better if they both leave for Europe by the end of August. Chambost does not doubt that Blanc will agree either to Chambost's going or Benoit's ordination. Blanc knows that Baton Rouge is a place of sacrifice and that no one wants it. P.S. Two priests who would like to get out without loss could never live at Baton Rouge. :: VI-1-o A.L.S. French 3pp. 4to. 16