Gutton, Father Philibert, False River, Louisiana, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1866 May 2

Immediately on his return to his parish, Gutton paid $412 on the note and on April 28 retired it entirely. There remains only the third, not due until September 12, 1868. This notes has been passed to a speculator with a 35% loss. Gutton's idea in retiring the second note was to offer security for the land on which they would like to borrow 1000 to repair the church. He got no encouragement. The cemetery has just been entirely fenced; he wants to have some trenches made to make it easier to dig the graves. He will have to sacrifice a note for $100 for this. From the men who went to see Odin he learned that Father Francis Mittelbronn is saying that he wants to undertake a new building for St. Rose de Lima but is waiting for money due him at Pointe Coupée. Mittelbronn told Gutton that if the Bishop received him he would 1st everything go. Then he changed his tune and said the Bishop had promised him St. James and if he left him at St. Rose he would have to make a claim. If the Bishop gave him St. James he would leave everything. Gutton's poor church keeps on deteriorating. Father Jean A. Poyet came back last Thursday. The site of the crevasse Odin went around is now an impassable road and keeps people from church. However he thinks this new levee will hold while the one at Morganza is very doubtful. The son of one of his parishioners, Mrs. Parlange has just made his First Communion. He is 16 and next month his mother is sending him to a State College in the North. Will Odin confirm him in New Orleans before he goes? He is a charming and well instructed young man. :: VI-2-k A.L.S. French 6pp. 12mo.