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Scope and Contents Blanc's letter of the 25th just arrived, Blanc puts off the Trappist project indefinitely. Mégret recognizes the finger of God. He has seen Father Adrien Rouquette only once at Father Constantine Maenhaut ? Manheau's. He judged him not as superficial but overrated. Mégret would not give him even the direction of a religious house. Mégret has always said the litany of the Blessed Virgin for a private devotion for the dead. From today on he will stop since Blanc does not consider it fitting....

Scope and Contents This is not a reply to Blanc's last letter; Mégret will reply to it this week. Father Louis Dufour has completed his jubilee at Pont Breaux. Yesterday, at Mégret's Dufour held the closing of the month of Mary. Mégret did all he could to prevent his trip to California. He detained Dufour for his jubilee which began yesterday. Blanc has worthy priests but none equal Dufour in preaching talent. Mégret hopes Blanc can keep him. If Blanc wants to keep Pont Breaux in the faith, he will not send...

Scope and Contents He can send only a few words by Sister St. Paul Aucoin, O. Carm. as she is about to leave. She needs rest; he hopes things can be arranged about the French and English classes. The house is doing well but small in numbers. Mégret has made provision for the money destined for Father Francis L'homme to be paid several days after his letter announcing it. The person preferred to buy a slave. Mégret has been only once to St. Martin and found no one at home at Edward? Simon' s. Mégret gave Simon...

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Mégret, pastor of Lafayette and owner of Abbeville, gives full power to Father Stephen Rousselon to sell to Blanc, for the use of the Catholics of Abbeville and Vermillion Parish, 12 lots marked Nos. 14 through 25, with the buildings, the church, the presbytery, fences, etc. for 4000 piastres which Mégret has received. :: VI-1-c A.L.S. French 1p. 4to.

Scope and Contents Mégret has just married Dr. Jules Gouguet ? and Rosa Petit . Blanc knows about their scandalous living together for almost 4 years. Last week the doctor obtained a legal divorce. He came to Mégret and assured him that he had been married only by the mayor, in France, at his first marriage and not in the Church. He asked Mégret to bless his second marriage. They both prepared by going to confession and the doctor publicly asserted that he had not been married in the Church at his first...

Scope and Contents The work of his church prevents him from going to the retreat. He has not yet been able to settle Father Julien Priour 's debts. All Mégret's debtors can only pay in April and Judge Simon, who has Mégret's note, wants only money. Blanc once proposed buying Mégret's negress; she is an excèllent cook. He would send her at once and is sure she would be very happy at his house and in the city. He would give her for $600 and Blanc could pay Priour. Suzanne is not dear at that price; he has been...

Scope and Contents He should have written sooner but was waiting for the reply of one of the experts. He appoints André Valerien Martin and Edmond Mouton, born at Carancro. Having been sheriffs of the parish for several years, they have been in even the smallest places. As for the two named by the Jesuits , Mégret objects to Zenon Broussard because he has lived here for only a dozen years. He is a man without judgment and incapable. He is the one to whom Mégret was to give $47.50 or the Ladies at Grand Coteau...

Scope and Contents Mégret wrote through their Sisters; he thinks it useful to write again. Day before yesterday he was called on by the same ladies he told Blanc about in his first letter. They are waiting for the arrival of the Sisters of Mount Carmel to learn the new personnel before deciding to withdraw their children. If Sister Elizabeth, O. Carm. 's health permits her to come, she will only have to hold her position, without any classes. Mother Théèse Chevrel, O. Carm. would not have to weigh sending her...

Scope and Contents He received Blanc letter of the 12th yesterday. He thought he should find out Father F. Le Grand 's dispositions before going to see him. Mégret sent Legrand this morning, by a servant, the letter Blanc entrusted to him, acceompanied by one from Mégret himself written as a friendly confrere. Legrand replied in a most satisfactory way, asking Mégret to come to see him tomorrow or Tuesday. Mrs. Zenon received a letter today from Mother Théèse saying that classes would not resume until February...

Scope and Contents Mégret received Blanc's letter through Father Louis Dufour at the end of December. Blanc sent Mégret to Vermillionville, the worst parish to administer because of the influential men in it. Then Mégret has provided vestments and renovated the sanctuary. The morale of the parish has changed entirely so that he rates Lafayette as one of the better rural parishes. In three years he has brought about a ten year change and now at Blanc's visit for Confirmation he is not satisfied with anything....

Scope and Contents After receiving a letter from the trustees and good Catholics, mentioned in his postscript, Mégret expected nothing further. The president of the trustees has been to see him twice since, at Abbeville. Yesterday he went to Lafayette and was called on by men of his parish. While awaiting Blanc's orders, Mégret retired to the Sisters' house and will not go back to the presbytery until it is in a fitting state for him and his assistant, the church is repaired as Blanc wishes and the cemetery is...

Scope and Contents The president of the trustees is making an effort to have Mégret return to the church and presbytery. Mégret has called a meeting to explain things and has asked Father Louis Dufour to come. They have had much trouble in getting them to decide to have recourse to Blanc's authority. The pastor of St. Martin can tell Blanc something about that. The fault of the trustees is that they stand in fear of the Protestants and bad Christians, they remain hidden when they should defend him; they waive...

Scope and Contents Mégret believes this letter will find Blanc returned home from Baltimore. On June 6, the trustees of St. John's of Lafayette met at the home of André Martin . It was resolved that the cemetery would be closed and locked while the Protestant cemetery is separated from the Catholic. It was also resolved that the church be locked provisionally. The president proposed something which will seem extraordinary to Blanc, that they turn over the property of the Church and its dependencies to Blanc as...

Scope and Contents Yesterday Mégret wrote in the company of the trustees of Lafayette and in another's hand. He is delighted with the trustees who desire Blanc's acceptance. They see clearly that their administration could produce bitter fruit. They ardently desire that Mégret return to the church but he referred them to Blanc's last letter. What opened their eyes was seeing his house filled with the faithful. If Blanc accepts their offer, he could authorize someone to receive it during his absence. How happy...

Scope and Contents The business is completed since it has been signed by the majority and Mégret has begun at once to repair and enlarge the presbytery. He reminds Blanc of the urgent need of an assistant. The Sisters of our Lady of Mount Carmel are holding up under the competition of two other schools in the same locality, established about a month before them. They have 18 pupils and more promised who are detained by the fever. Their house will not be completed until toward the end of the year. It is hardly...

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Father Stephen Rousselon spent several days with them; he will tell Blanc about Lafayette . He believes the revenues from the church and cemetery will amount to 1000 to 1500 piastres. They can easily cover the expenses for the upkeep of the property and the building of the future church. Rousselon saw the lodging Mégret is preparing for the assistant which will be finished in a month. Before that Mégret hopes to return to the presbytery. :: V-5-f A.L.S. French 2pp. 4to.

Scope and Contents He sends this by Mother Théèse Chevrel, O. Carm ; she will tell Blanc about the house which is going up slowly but which will eventually be finished. Blanc will recall that Mégret is in urgent need of help. Father Charles M. Ménard of Thibodeauville and his brother-in-law advised Mégret to ask for Father Hyacinthe Tumoine as an assistant. If Blanc cannot send him now could not Father John Etienne Blin divide his time between New Iberia and Vermillionville two weeks a month each for Mégret...

Scope and Contents Mégret received Blanc's letter. Mr. Mode 's demand is unjust since Mégret received the amount from Constable Simon only in exchange for a larger one which Simon collected for him. Mégret will not pay unless this is cleared up in the doctor's eyes by the admission of the Constable himself. Mégret does not wish to be known as a withholder? in the eyes of the devoted sect of New Iberia. Mégret asks for an unusual dispensation. Pierre has married civilly the widow of his brother Jean and both...

Scope and Contents He has just now received a letter from Natchitoches informing him that the English teacher he has found after so much searching, Miss Catherine Long, had received opposition from Blanc about coming to Vermillionville. If this is true, Blanc is to replace Mégret quickly; he does not ask for any other place in his diocese. Such conduct on the part of a bishop shows distrust. If his religion does not prevail over his reason, he will leave before the arrival of his successor. V-5-l - A.L.S. -...

Scope and Contents Yesterday Mégret received Blanc's reply dated December 31 and sees with pleasure that Blanc agrees with his decision. Mégret encloses the letter from his correspondent to justify his own of the 18th. If Mégret was wanting in regard to Blanc's dignity as Bishop, he asks pardon; but Blanc was lacking in regard to Mégret's priesthood. Mégret is writing to Mr. Dupley Louis Dupleix to obtain the copy Blanc desires, not for himself, who believes Blanc at his word, but to satisfy Blanc. Mégret has...

Scope and Contents He learned too late of the departure of Valerien Martin to take advantage of it. Mégret thought he would be replaced according to Blanc's reply; he expected it. But he cannot leave without arrangements between the one to go and the one to arrive. He also has waited in vain for the reply from Natchitoches to send on to Blanc. So, several days after the arrival of the Sisters of Mount Carmel he set to work on the church; everyone thinks he is making a sacristy. Blanc, at the last retreat, gave...

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Blanc has received him with kindness and honored him with his confidence. It will be impossible for Mégret to rem ain longer at Lafayette ; he asks for a replacement by July 1. If Mégret's services would still be useful to Blanc and if he has no replacement for Father Louis Dufour Mégret would accept that place for a few years. :: V-5-i A.L.S. French 3pp. 4to.

Scope and Contents Mégret received Blanc's letter of May 2. He gives the financial report of the church at Vermillionville. Returning to his church at the end of 1846, Mégret had to renew all the fence around the cemetery, garden, and presbytery. He lists all expenditures. His plan to withdraw is positive. He can not stay long at Lafayette ; he will stay until Blanc replaces him. He does not know Blanc's priests but it should bé someone like Father Claude Anthony Tholomier, Father J.E. Blin, etc. Mégret knows...

Scope and Contents Mégret received Blanc's letter of the 7th. The Abbot of La Grande Trappe drew on Mégret for $132. This draft was not mentioned by the firm of Didier or Odier of New Orleans; it was 3 years ago. Mégret accepted it and placed this sum in the hands of F. Gautier, a merchant of his town who did his exchanging at that time. The misfortune is that there is no appeal as in less than three months Gautier lost his fortune, leaving $8000 in debts and finally lost his mind. Mégret is without funds just...

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Of the 5 stricken with cholera in his parish, he was able to administer to only one. Yesterday he announced a procession for nine days with a statue of Our Lady of Grace and put his parish under her special protection. They went through the village saying the litany and singing. V-5-k - A.L.S. - French - 3pp. - 4to. - {1}

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For nine days he held a procession in honor of Our Lady of Grace through all the streets of the village. Their prayers were granted and the cholera disappeared. His parishioners were made strong by their faith. V-5-k - A.L.S. - French - 4pp. - 4to. - {1}

Scope and Contents Mégret received Blanc's letter of April 3. He thought no more of the reply about the Trappists. He would like to talk of them and the Sisters from another point of view. Learning that Blanc is to leave the 22nd he will hurry and begin with Louis Lucien Arcenaux. Mégret was very much annoyed to see him return to the old; he had forbidden him to leave the seminary for such a slight cause as that asked by his family. He came to Mégret's house accompanied by Father Julien Priour. After spending...

Scope and Contents Louis Lucien Arceneaux left 13 days ago for the seminary. It seems he started from his mother's home several times but came back because of fear of the cholera. Mégret believes he is steadfast in his vocation. However Blanc should write his a few words of dissatisfaction, he deserves it. Arcenaux did not come to see Mégret because he was afraid Mégret would give him a severe lecture. Mégret has been so busy he could not write before this morning. He will write Blanc at the Council; he wishes...

Scope and Contents Mégret informed Father Nicholas Francais of the contents of Blanc's letter of March 3 concerning his leaving for Abbeville . Francais hesitates to go before receiving a letter from Blanc; Mégret asks Blanc to write him one as soon as possible. As Francais no doubt sent Mégret's first letter to Blanc by Father Julien Priour, Mégret will inform Blanc of what he is writing Francais today: the words of the Bishop, "I approve that he establish himself at Abbeville as soon as he is ready" and "As...

Scope and Contents Mégret reminds Blanc of his extreme need for an assistant. Vermillionville cannot remain without a priest, particularly in time of sickness. Abbéville also needs one and a third one would not be too much to take care of the missions. However, if he looks at the parish in a different light, the irreligion and diabolic evil in the village, Mégret must admit that this is the worst one he has ever known. Abbéville has always been much more favorable. The church will not be completed for several...