Beccard, Father Améé, Lafourche, Louisiana, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1860 June 14

He has received Blanc's letter of the 14th which made him very happy. Isolation in the middle of such long and difficult tortures is hard to bear. Father Charles M. Menard' s curt and uncaring character makes it difficult to talk to him. Furthermore it was to Father Etienne Rousselon rather than to Menard that he spoke on the first of March. In any event he noticed some improvement yesterday and today. Until now he has thought that it would be impractical to have a priest at his poor chapel on Field Lake . For the past 7 or 8 years he has ministered there for nothing. This year the parishioners have refused to rent pews from him unless he promised to give half of the proceeds to them. He is waiting for the dispensation for the marriage of Louis Martin, a Protestant, and Emeranthe Chauvin . He was unable to go to Thibodaux on Monday because he had two marriages to perform. P.S. It would be well if Menard does not know of the small reproaches which he has made; it would only create useless trouble between them. :: VI-2-c A.L.S. French 3pp. 12mo.