Chénal, Father H.J., Louisville, Kentucky, to Father Etienne Rousselon, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1858 September 9

Chénal received Rousselon's letter of August 10. Chénal does not know Rousselon but he will repay his charity and good advice by a deep affection. He will repay the Archbishop's goodness by a boundless devotion. Bishop John Martin Spalding of Louisville read Chénal a letter dated August 24 from which he understood that Rousselon asked Spalding to keep Chénal. The reasons were the yellow fever and the absence of the Archbishop. Spalding imposed one condition, that of showing his papers. Chénal told in his letter to the Archbishop the reason which deprived him of his papers. Father Annet Lafont saw, read, and kept for several days, Chénal's papers, retained by the owner of the hotel where Chénal stayed. Chénal was going to sail for New Orleans after 3 days of retreat. He was so happy and then came this new trial. The yellow fever will not take him; great sinners live long to atone for their evil. P.S. He has had no help from the Bishop of Louisville. They will be surprised in France when he writes all this. Spalding's glacial indifference would make the soul of Bishop Flaget wince. Chénal is accustomed to relationship with the bishops in France who are much superior to Spalding. :: VI-1-o A.L.S. French 4pp. 12mo.