Brague, Father Alph. Parish of Saint-Marceau, Orleans, France, to Archbishop Napoleon Joseph Perché, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1881 June 7

He writes with the approval of Bishop Pierre Coul lié of Orleans to ask Perché to receive his assistant into the diocese. Father Mathieu is forty years old, in good health and could render useful services. He is capable and has a solid faith, a devoted heart and a zeal which does not recoil before any sacrifice. Unfortunately he has a slight tendency to drink which involved him in a scandal. Since it has become too public, the Bishop cannot give him a post that would not dishonor him. Perché already has a priest whom Brague had for an assistant, Father Marcellin Broquère of Chenal; he does not believe that Perché has had reason to complain of him. Neverthe less, he had been an object of great sadness for them. Brague has never ceased to correspond with him and to urge him to do his best. Furthermore, his culpability was never proven. A.L.S. French Enclosure: