Gutton, Father Philibert, St. Martinville, Louisiana, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1861 July 8

After a severe illness brought on by fatigue, he was placed with Father Ange Marie Felix Jan eight months ago to complete his convalescence and remain as an assistant. However Jan and the trustees said they could not meet the expense. He remained there doing all that was asked and receiving only a Mass stipend or two a week. If it were not for a fever which strikes him intermittently he would go to New Orleans to speak to Odin directly but the doctor said it would be unwise. Last week Jan having learned that Father N. Francais curé at Anse Sauvage, wished to leave for France, told him that he might arrange something. He wishes to find a fixed position be it as assistant or alone, or learning English, but he does not want to influence the decision of his superiors. Francais told him he would like to stay for a while to arrange certain matters. Gutton, if destined for the post, would prefer that Francais be far away because he does not wish to live with the almost white mulatresses whom Francais wishes to free and give a piece of the church land so that they would then come to render him services. Gutton fears that if this is not to commit evil at least it formally authorizes it. That such difficulties have occurred in regard to a neighboring confrere, of whose sad history he has heard, rends his heart. ` P.S. Perhaps Odin would know a little about Gutton if he said he were the schoolmate of Father Claude Jacquet, Father J.S. Valois, Father Andrew Farges, and Father _____ Corgié. :: VI-2-e A.L.S. French 3pp. 4to.