Nash, James P., Galveston, Texas, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1866 January 1

Unforeseen events marred the wished for pleasure he had hoped to enjoy in spending a few days in New Orleans. The return of active life is now upon them after 4 years in misery. Their conquerors have not acted as badly as they anticipated. Both friend and foe equalled each other as destroyers. The business in mercantile transaction during the past four months has surpassed anything imaginable. Boylan house is now paying $60 in specie. The old cottages are paying $35 and the Godin houses each $35. Pews in the Cathedral sold yesterday from $20 to $80. Carpenters are getting $6 to $6½ a day. Mr. Guibeau is expecting a stock of goods for his own store. Mr. and Mrs. Hyacinthe de St. Cyr are also here; he is settling his old affairs. Bishop Claude Marie Dubuis is here. Nathan Smith is so feeble he must stop coming to church. His daughter and child are with him. Mrs. Nash has a store in part of Nash's dwelling where she is selling off some things Mary Nash had left to pay some of Mary's debts. Madam Conche is selling off hér stock of French goods and paying $20 a month for Mary's store. He has sent his little Joe Nash with Father John Gonnard Gunard to Corpus Christi to prepare for the ministry, if it be his vocation. He asks Odin to give his regards to Thomas O'Donnell whom he never once saw; he was so kind to Mary. He has heard from Denis Neil that Odin looks well, despite his attack of neuralgia. He had planned to see Odin but the closing of the Mannis estate at this term of the probate court stopped him. :: VI-2-k A.L.S. 4pp. 4to. 13