Follot, Father F.C., Plaquemine, Louisiana, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1860 March 18

Follot rejoices in Blanc's full recovery. Michael Schlatre came a week ago to show Follot Blanc's letter about the bill of sale for the slaves. Their church is finished on the exterior except for the steeple; the interior is ready to plaster. The contractor gave his word the administrators were satisfied, now nothing is ready. Follot has a servant; he has neither a horse nor buggy, only a little pony. Mr. Herbert made him a present of 50 piastres. Nevertheless, he is making out all right. The two fairs were quite successful-almost 800 piastres. Herbert wants to buy 3 altars in St. Louis; they will have an organ from Cincinnati, they already have 2 bells, in all 900 piastres. The roads and his small resources keep him from going to Grosse-Tete as often as he would like. He hopes next year to take Blanc to visit this flourishing bayou. It is inhabited by a majority of Protestants; there is an Episcopalian and a Presbyterian church. Two planters want to give land near the railroad depot. Mrs. Maria L. Key subscribed 250 only under this condition. But the center of population is far from there, down the bayou, more on the Plaquemine side. Follot is going to try to get 2 or 3 arpents from a Doctor Garrett, a Protestant. The Protestants have a seminary for the girls, a college for the boys, and then there are the public schools. The Convent of the Holy Cross is getting on marvelously; 60 students of whom 18 or 20 are boarders. The Sisters of the Holy Cross would be good for him but he keeps his distance in order not to offend Father Patrick F. Shiel, C.S.C. ; he was here last week again. Follot would like to know the exact boundaries between St. Gabriel and St. Jean of Plaquemine and whether he can visit the sick or others on the other side of the river opposite Plaquemine. It is much nearer especially since there is a regular steam ferry. Is there any way to ask the pastor of St. James for the vestments which he had in the old church? Father Cyril Delacroix comes to see Follot often and Follot returns the visit. He also sees Father Victor Clerouin who is doing well at East Baton Rouge. Follot has not been able to obtain the sum for the marriage dispensation. He sends enclosed the Christmas collections for the seminary-15 piastres and 25 piastres from the late Mr. Dupuy. Mother du Calvaire, going to retreat, will bring this letter to Blanc. :: VI-2-c A.L.S. French 4pp. 4to. 12