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Scope and Contents He wrote Odin some days ago; he has had no reply. He told him that his revenues were insufficient and that he could no longer stay here. He was going to write for a change when some of his parishioners proposed to furnish his board and he asked Odin if it was proper that he leave his house to take a room. Father Anthony Andrieu, C.M. observed that it was not fitting for a priest to live with lay people. LeSaicherre's brother, who is with him is going home in a few days. Odin is to reply by...

Scope and Contents Lescuru came to Rome three months ago with the permission of his bishop, the Bishop of Beauvais, to enter the Servites, but more mature examination made him renounce this plan. He was disposed to follow the Bishop of Montreal whom he met at the house of the Abbot of La Trappe at Staoueli? when he met Father Jean Caretta, C.M. and Father John Lynch, C.M. . They talked about Blanc's diocese and its needs. Lynch said that he was charged by Blanc to look for priests. At their advice, Lescuru...

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Lescuru received Blanc's letter. He thought the affair settled for having received nothing from the corporation for a year; he was out of money in October when the first demand was made. He wants to get rid of four cows as an easy means of paying back this sum at Donaldson. :: VI-2-a A.L.S. French 1p. 4to.

Scope and Contents Yesterday Father Dutil, assistant at St. Paul, came to tell Madame Lesne of the death of her brother-in-law, Father James Lesne, at New Orleans. This news had been communicated to him by Father Philibert Gutton, his successor. Dutil also made known to her Odin's visit to Lyons. She quickly went to the Grand Seminary but she learned there that Odin is at the spa. She hopes to talk with him to learn what measures she will have to take to safeguard the interests of her children who are Lesne's...

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She writes to Blanc in order to get a letter to her brother-in-law Father James Lesne? . She has written him several times without having a reply. :: V-5-a A.L.S. French 1p. 4to.

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Blanc knows that for a long time Lesne has wished to leave this diocese. Last year he agreed to remain longer because the bishop needed a priest. Today that reason no longer exists since Father Ferdinand Dominic Bach and confreres arrived. Lesne asks again if Blanc can receive him and use him in his diocese. His temporal affairs are almost arranged; he will learn by experience. :: V-4-k A.L.S. French 2pp. 4to.

Scope and Contents Lesne wrote several days ago about his desire to leave this diocese. He asks Blanc to let him know if Blanc could use him; otherwise Lesne will look for another place. Lesne asks a favor for a marriage he is trying to rectify. The woman, lately arrived in the town, cannot give proof t hat she is not already married. Her name is Marie Ann Ross, 20 years old. Her brother Thomas Ross is a watchman at the Consolidated Bank of New Orleans and her cousin Mr. Lenert is cashier in the same bank;...

Scope and Contents Lesne has had an interview with Bishop Michael Portier who, although he consented to let him go, asked him to stay until Easter. Portier fears that Father Symphorian Guinand, who left two months ago to take up a collection in Havana, will not want to return to Pensacola. Also, Portier is afraid that those who came from France may find some difficulty so that Father John Basin and Portier might have to go to the College. Lesne cannot leave the bishop in such embarrassment. So if Lesne does...

Scope and Contents Lesne received a letter Saturday from Bishop Mathias Loras saying that Blanc intends the post at the mortuary chapel for Lesne if he comes to Blanc after Easter. Lesne thanks Blanc for again thinking about him. He has promised to stay only until Easter and as the College of Spring Hill is going very well; Bishop Michael Portier will not be inconvenienced as he was when Lesne wrote Blanc. So Blanc can count on him; he could not live any longer at Mobile for many reasons which Loras has...

Scope and Contents Lesne wrote some time ago in reply to a letter from Bishop Mathias Loras. He told of his resolution to leave after Easter. He will pack the rest of his things the week after Easter. Then he will leave to join Blanc if Blanc considers it fitting. His low spirits are caused either by his present false situation or by the pain of leaving Bishop Michael Portier with whom he has lived for nine years. If he has a little tranquility andn the necessities of life it will be all he will need. His...

Scope and Contents Lesne sends this with Father Julien Priour in reply to Blanc's last letter. He thanks him for giving him the details of the post to which he has been assigned. Bishop Mathias Loras wrote so vaguely that Lesne did not know how he stood. That was why he wrote a second letter by Father Ferdinand Dominic Bach. Blanc says Lesne is to preach in the new church to which he is sent. This is no obstacle; if he did not preach oftener at Mobile it was because Bishop Michael Portier wished to preach or...

Scope and Contents Lesne had promised to arrive the week after Easter. He would have left if Bishop Michael Portier had not had to go to give Confirmation at Mount Vernon. The Bishop will return the first of next week. Lesne was just as well satisfied for this delay since his rheumatism came back on Easter and he could only say Mass and that with extreme difficulty. He is better and hopes the hot weather will cure him. They have learned with sorrow of Blanc's loss of Father Jeanjean; they share it. All their...

Scope and Contents Lesne did not answer Blanc's last letter because he was in bed and could not leave the house. After his request to which Blanc replied so kindly, Lesne wrote that Bishop Michael Portier had given him permission to leave his diocese but that seeing how much his request afflicted Portier, he would have to arrange matters to know when Lesne could leave. In Lesne's second letter he told Blanc of his conversation with Portier who showed him the difficulty of replacing him and asked him to stay...

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Two months from this date, Lesne promises to pay to the order of Joseph Mignard, 857 piastres. Copy

Scope and Contents A person whom Lesne prepared for her First Communion about 8 years ago, and who could not make it then because of her parents who were not religious, came to ask him to make it now. She married civilly about 4 years ago. The church ceremony was prevented by her brother-in-law. She seems well disposed but her husband barely consented as he said he did not want anyone to know that he was married in the church. Lesne asks for the faculty to marry them. Blanc writes and signs this note on the...

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Lesne sends a receipt for Bishop Michael Portier and asks Blanc to give it to him. Mr. Renaud has expressed the desire to have his marriage blessed. His wife is a Protestant, he doubts if she has been baptised. They were married by a Protestant minister; Lesne thinks he did this because he knew all his friends were opposed to such a marriage and he was too much involved to withdraw. :: V-5-g A.L.S. French 2pp. 4to.

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Lesne reminds Blanc that tomorrow is the day assigned for their First Communion and Confirmation; there will be 30 for Confirmation and 12 for Communion. The 13th person to die and to be buried tonight is the daughter of Mr. Caire, notary. :: V-5-g A.L.S. French 2pp. 4to.

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The bearer of this letter, Edward Lavergne, asks Lesne to bless his marriage tomorrow evening. Does Blanc have any objection to this or to giving a dispensation from the time? He is to answer by the bearer who has already fulfilled all other requirements. Blanc writes on the letter: Petition granted. :: V-4-m A.L.S. French 2pp. 4to.

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He is sending this little boy to get the preface Rousselon promised last week. If he has not had time to do it he is to let Lesne know when to send back his messenger. Rousselon has sent no word about his books; perhaps the price is too high but the materials are very high and it is impossible to make such a binding for the price indicated. :: V-5-m A.L.S. French 2pp. 12mo.

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Lesne is sending some litanies which he could not have printed before last week because the press was damaged. In the meantime this pious young lady can be satisfied with those which are done. The book will be started tomorrow. Lesne asks Rousselon to obtain from the Bishop a statement of approbation to put in the book. :: V-5-m A.L.S. French 2pp. 12mo.

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Lesne is sorry to go back on his word but at the time he assembled the different sections of the book he noticed that some were in black print, some very faint. He had to go yesterday to have his workman promise to do them over. Without this incident Rousselon would have had more than 100 copies. Lesne also noticed that the cover had no resemblance to the one Lesne sent Rousselon. :: V-5-m A.L.S. French 1p. 12mo.

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Elodie Toutant, about to marry S. Richard Proctor? has asked Lesne to bless her marriage. Having known her for several years, Lesne accepted but would like to know if this is satisfactory to Rousselon. The husband being Protestant, Lesne explained to him that it was the custom not to publish such marriages but if Rousselon requires it Proctor will agree. :: V-4-n A.L.S. French 2pp. 4to.

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Being in a hurry to return home Lesne asked a friend to deliver the $14 collected for the Seminary at Rome. Also $11.00 for the Propagation of the Faith, $6.00 for Mrs. Drouet 's group and $5.00 for Mrs. Waggaman's . He asks Rousselon to sent the Annals of the Propagation for the past year. :: VI-2-a A.L.S. French 1p. 4to.

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He asks for the faculty to bless a marriage contracted before a judge. The parties have several children and wish to be married secretly. V-5-k - A.L.S. - French - 2pp. - 12mo. - {1}

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Having been called to the Dorcantel home to give the last sacraments to the oldest son who is dying, and reflecting that perhaps his faculties do not extend that far, Lesne asks Rousselon to grant them to him. This man has never made his First Communion and has asked Lesne as he is the only priest he knows. Lesne asks Rousselon to give him the ordos for next year. :: VI-1-h A.L.S. French 2pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents Some time after Easter Lesne told Bishop Blanc of his intention of retiring to his property at Covington because his health had been weakened by the sufferings of 14 years and an uninterrupted residence of 16 years. At that time he did not have money enough to execute his plan and he was obliged to remain at his post without an absence of even 2 weeks. His health is not better and he feels the need of a change of air so he notifies Rousselon that he plans to leave in a few days and asks him...

Scope and Contents Lesne has a marriage to perform this evening between a Protestant and a Catholic. When they spoke to him last week, Lesne told them that such marriages were not performed with the exterior ceremonies of the Church. This reply greatly displeased them; they said Father Louis Moni had always performed these marriages like the others. Lesne replied that this rule was nothing new; that he himself during all the time he was at Mobile had seen this practice in force and that it was followed in all...

Scope and Contents Lesne received Blanc's letter of April 30 and he thanks him for the part he takes in Lesne's sad position. The factory where he had worked for a year and a half has been closed and he has spent money he had earned and which was left from the sale of his father's watch, given him by his mother before his departure for the United States. For a month Lesne and his wife have lived on coffee and bread. At times friends have given them lard and fish. Now that work in the fields has begun Lesne...

Scope and Contents He writes to inform Blanc about the reply of Father James Lesne and to thank him for the step Blanc took in his behalf. A letter from his mother obliged him on May 15 to go to New Haven for a procuration which he had to give to one of his brothers who has charge of his affairs. He was without money and it was 32 miles. He counted on staying with some workmen he knew, paying them later. But he found employment with a clock maker, Jerome and Company which brings him $20; it is little but he...

Scope and Contents Once again Lesne appeals to Blanc for help. His uncle Father James Lesne has never answered the letters which Lesne's mother has written although he knows she is in need. One third of the money his uncle spends would have overjoyed his mother. What Lesne asks for now is advice. Lesne married an Irish woman about 2 years after he arrived in America. He has two children. During his stay in the North, Lesne worked in shops and never had any complaint against his wife. But when he came to St....