Foltier, Father Stephen Jules, Vermillionville, Louisiana, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1858 August 21

Father Jean Francois Abbadie, S.J. wrote recently, altering again the concessions which Foltier had made, and moving back the limits which they were to accept by common accord. But since Foltier wrote Blanc, things have changed. 1. The people do not want to consent to a change of parish, except for 2 or 3. A petition will be presented to Blanc at Grand Coteau. 2. It is proved by surveying that from the church tower to the bridge at Carencrow Carencro it is nine miles. 3. When Foltier gave his report last year he exaggerated in speaking of the population because he used figures made up before the separation of Vermillion parish. These figures set the population at 7000 whites and about 6000 negroes. Believing these were the figures for his parishioners he saw he should make some concessions; one priest would not suffice. When the priests complained about the small number of parishioners and the scantiness of income he thought he must make a sacrifice. However, Foltier does not have as many burials or baptisms as they do so why was this? Today he found the explanation. The assessor has just visited the parish and the newspaper of the 21st has published the population of Lafayette parish as 777 voters; 4,126 whites; 4,015 slaves; 786 white men from 18 to 45; free negroes 253; a total of 8,394. Half are slaves; they are Methodists for the most part. Taking away the children and about 500 Protestants Blanc can see he is not to be envied. So Blanc is to allow him to withdraw all the concessions he has made. The people far from asking to join Grand Coteau, prefer to remain members of their old parish. VI-1-o - A.L.S. - French - 4pp. - 8vo. - 6