Scope and Contents The news that Brute gives of his affairs with St. Sulipice and the Archbishop Ambrose Marechal is very afflicting. Separation can have only bad effects. Their is no hope of success without approval from on high and that comes through superiors. He hopes that Brute will not break with Baltimore but that there will be closer union between the two houses. This union Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget regards as essential. The establishment was first at Pigeon Hall and Flaget was in charge. ...

Scope and Contents Two young men who have studied at the Barrens arrived three days ago on foot from Louisville to be admitted here. Their testimonials are favorable but past experience has proved the necessity of not being too precipitate. They are Patrick Ratigan and Jeremiah Langton. Bishop Flaget asked David to write and he himself will write to Bishop Rosati. The reason of their change is their health although this climate is not very different from Missouri. David wishes to know about their ...

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David has had a conference with Father William Dubourg on the evils that could result from the impressions of the sermon that has been preached. The sermon ought not to appear until after tomorrow. It is possible that the copies have not yet been made. Bruté should make known to the Bishops his thoughts on the subject that corrections will be made. He will advise Dubourg but Bruté is not to mention it. :: II-3-n A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo., 2

Scope and Contents He commenced a letter to Babad the other day but he was so badly occupied that several days before he could answer. Yesterday evening he received some letters from Bishop Bendict Joseph Flaget and without noting he completed that answer on the letter he had begun to Babad. He discovered this at the end but sent the letter just as it was. The news the bishop gave of his health worries David. He did not hear from him for six weeks and then he wrote that he had a fever at the treaty camp ...

Scope and Contents Mr. Elder already has two letters to Bruté and since he will not leave before Sunday he now adds a third. He now tells him where they are and about their daughters. The seminary continues as it can. Moretti is not strong. Buchette has been added and they have some postulants to the future seminary. He told in the previous letter that Thomas Howard had left them a plantation of nearly 400 acres, half to them and half to the widow, three or four miles from Bardstown. The widow has come...

Scope and Contents He acknowledges Bruté's letter. He has been slow to answer because of lack of time. He is now sick. He had asthma in November which became more severe at Easter time and was so bad that he nearly suffocated. David describes in some detail the sickness and the medicines he took for it. If the medicines do not work a bleeding will be used. The sickness wa brought on by the use of his lungs in the Holy Week services, which they carried out fully. Father Joseph Rosati took charge of the...

Scope and Contents David regrets his delay in answering Bruté's latest letter. The details of the mission of Orleans was so interesting and gave proof that hope for the renewal of religion is not impossible. On July 16 the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget solemnly blessed the foundation stone of the cathedral. He was assisted by Father Fuit the Dominican, Father Guy Ignatius Chabrat and David, four deacons Desrigauds and three Dominicans, one subdeacon, two in minor orders...

Scope and Contents He would have answered Bruté's letter but he has been ill. His asthma has been severe. He has improved and can now sleep on his bed. He has received with gratitude the advice of Dr. Chatard. He does hope for a radical cure. He regards his condition as a favor from heaven that will ban any suggestion that he become a bishop. Father Felix D'Andreis added his theologians to his own. He has only the classes of English or French for the priests. When Father Charles Nerinckx returns he hopes...

Scope and Contents David takes the liberty of sending to Bruté some dispatches for Europe which are very numerous because there are so many Europeans there. He sends them with one of their merchants, Mr. Shadburn, who is not a Catholic but married to one. He knows nothing new except that he has been ill and kept to his room for three or four days. There is no news from the Bishops who have taken the steamboat from Louisville to St. Louis. They do not know if the ice has hindered them or how the Bishop...

Scope and Contents David writes of a spectacle seen only in Europe or Rome. Bishop Louis William DuBourg has visited them for ten days with his little band. They planned an episcopal reception but the Bishop came on with Father Guy Ignatius Chabrat to St. Thomas. The first to come was the Bishop himself who took his meal at the seminary. Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget rendered honors due a bishop and erected for him a throne opposite to his own. DuBourg assisted at the Sunday Mass and gave a sermon on...

Scope and Contents David is annoyed at the remarks some make about the frequency of their letters. Some one is attempting to cut short the consolations these letters give. He regrets that Brute did not receive his letter before writing. Brute should supress the title "Rt. Rev." He sent a package addressed to Brute to be sent on to Europe. Every one there knows of Brute's generosity in this. He received with pleasure Brute's observations about the episcopal purple. He disagrees with Brute on what is of...

Scope and Contents David has promised to write of their navigation as the Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget has promised to write on their travel by land. He compares their trip to a spiritual journey, sweetness at the start on the 50 miles of turnpike then rough like aridities after Gettysburg. On the Ohio there is tranquility. They travel on an ark 51 feet long and 12 feet wide. He gives a detailed description of the boat and how they use it. There is Bishop Flaget surrounded by three priests, since Father...

Scope and Contents He forgot to speak of a very interesting subject. They have decided to form a society of young ladies to devote themselves to the education of girls. He believes the Sisters of Charity do not have that object so much as the Ursulines. Cloistered Sisters would not do, but they do not agree with all that the Sisters of Charity do. A good married layman, with his pious wife, has offered them a property, a house and plantation for the community. Two are already preparing in different...

Scope and Contents David expresses his joy at receiving Bruté's letter except that Bruté refuses to be the spiritual father of his children. He presumes that this is because of the return of Father William DuBourg. He hopes that after Bruté's retreat he will have more time to write about the college and the seminary. The work there is as usual, Guy Ignatius Chabrat teaches until he becomes a priest. Buckety gives him some help, poor Moretty does not do any better in his studies. Derigaud does very well,...

Scope and Contents He will finish his story of the journey which had taken them to Father Stephen Theodore Badin's home. Bruté's letter has arrived by Mr. Elder. For the reception of the Bishop David suggested that Bruté see Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget's letter to Father Jean Tessier. He speaks of his pleasure in learning that Bruté has taken over the direction of his former students. He is embarrassed that Bruté asks him for advice. He advised him to reread the book of Father Surin. He has also read...

Scope and Contents He wishes to complete his trip to Louisville. They were received by Tarascon, a Frenchman from Marseilles, who has a business with his brother and other members of his family. Louisville is growing fast because of the falls of the Ohio for which the boats have to stop most of the year. They waited two days for Father Stephen Theodore Badin who did not come but Father Charles Nerinckx came Friday. Friday night they arrived with their wagons at the home of Thompson. The next day they ...

Scope and Contents He received Bruté's letter. While the seminarians were hugging the stove he and Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget had made trips through the woods of Kentucky, sometimes together and other times separately. He also has initiated Father Guy Ignatius Chabrat into his work in the missions. There David has given sixty Communions besides those hundred or more who had not been there for some years because of a lack of opportunity. Chabrat is very zealous and needs to be moderated. As to himself...

Scope and Contents He thanks Bruté and Dr. Chatard for their good advice. He awaits the pastilles. His asthma continues but so light that it does not bother him. He has had other sicknesses which he describes. Father Felix D'Andreis took his theology class but he himself kept his class for the priests in which he corrected their sermons in English and his other work. Chabrat could not take his place without leaving the seminary. Father Charles Nerinckx came with two companions and gave him some relief....

Scope and Contents David thinks that Bruté now enjoys the visit of Bishop Louis William DuBourg. Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget will start thursday, October 2, for St. Louis with Father Felix D'Andreis and Father Joseph Rosati to prepare for DuBourg. They are now building a horsemill. They thought they could make it for $600 but the costs are already over a thousand. It is nearly finished and will pay for itself in a few years. The old one may come in use if Bishop DuBourg leaves some of his clerics with...

Scope and Contents They will find encouragement in the Sacred Hearts. David expresses his union with Bruté in thought and service but regrets that Bruté has given up his place in the confessional of his children. He has difficulty finding these, his dear souls of Baltimore, although there are some good souls who are ignorant from a lack of good books. There are also the little time he can give them and the fear that they are accustomed to have for priests. They advance more from fear than from love....

Scope and Contents David expresses his pleasure in reading Bruté's letter, especially with his peculiar style. David promises to try to tell of their experiences as well as he can. They eat three times and frugally and even have whiskey, although they do not drink it. He has a happy community of eight children who look to him as their father. They confess to him and receive Communion once every eight days. Buchetty has left to everyone's satisfaction. He left Palm Sunday at 7:30 in the evening. Their...

Scope and Contents David has not written for a long time, chiefly because he had nothing interesting to say. The lower floor of their cabin is finished, the dormitory should be in place next week. Moretti does all this with the help of the youngsters. Providence is good to them, they have fish for Friday and Saturday and some turtles. The people of the congregation bring them grain and ham and occasionally some other eatables. Their garden is small but it furnishes them more than that at Baltimore. He ...

Scope and Contents The trunk and box have arrived safely and the merchant will not take anything for its carriage. He has offered Mass in thanksgiving in which he is joined by the seminarians and the Sisters of Nazareth, for that is the name they bear. He has to complain about Father Jean Tessier who seems to have lost his memory and keeps asking the Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget for accounts of things received from Baltimore. David lists various exchanges of silver, spoons, altar linens, and vestments ...

Scope and Contents David thanks Bruté for his letter and thanks him for his efforts to maintain their seminary. He hopes that in Bruté's letter to France he will not cease to speak for them. As for himself he will continue in the work which he regards as a work of Providence. It is not himself that he seeks since he would be better off at Baltimore. But it is the fear of seeing the work of 4 years vanish and his work rendered useless, of seeing the 12 clerics of whom 7 are from Kentucky deprived of the...

Scope and Contents He has received for the Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget the letter concerning the missionaries who are descending the Ohio and are probably at Louisville. The Bishop left thursday with Father Guy Ignatius Chabrat to receive them and bring the 4 students Vincentians and even Father Felix D'Andreis to their poor cabin. They will have a long wait. When they left Pittsburgh September 24 there was rain but there has been no rain at Louisville or on the banks. David will be pleased to see...

Scope and Contents David and Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget are pleased to hear the news about Mr. Harent. 55 years is an advanced age but not for Harent who is much advanced in wisdom. They mad their retreat on the evening of Septuagesima to Monday after Sexagesima after which they renewed their vows before the Bishop. David began his classes eight days ago. He does not have much hope for Buchetti. If they had listened to Father Urbain Guillet they would have sent him away a long time ago. The others of...

Scope and Contents David and Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget were walking in the woods when they received the sad news from Bruté of the death of the young people. They feel that it is a great loss to the diocese and they feel the great loss in possible pastors for the flock who needs them so badly. Their seminary goes passably and could go better if they had a better guide than himself, Gras does well. They have many energetic people if they would be filled also with the divine love. Some have been sick...

Scope and Contents It has been so long since David heard from Bruté that he thought he had gone to Martinique. He presumes that the letter will find him at Emmitsburg. St. Thomas progresses: Father Peter Shaeffer is ordained priest, Desrigauds, subdeacon and three received tonsure, Robert Abell, John Mitchell and Ignatius Reynolds. Reynolds now studies Virgil and Sallust. There are 5 students in these classics. Shaeffer continues the tract on marriage, Desrigauds that of de ecclesia. Gras with another ...

Scope and Contents It is a long time since David wrote to Bruté and while he has promised to write a long letter to send by the Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget he is not sure that he will have the time. He has learned of the arrival of Father Ambrose Maréchal which affords welcome aid in the departure of Father William DuBourg. Maréchal brings with him a subdeacon and promises other clerics. He can also give the Bishop the latest news from France when the Bishop comes to Baltimore while David stays at...

Scope and Contents It has been a long time since he wrote and he would be surprised at that were he not so conscious of the press of duties. The long absence of the Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget places on his shoulders burdens above his ability and causes him great anxiety. He has enjoyed some tranquility since his return. The seminary continues to console. The Bishop gave tonsure to two, one of whom is Moretti and the other Charles Coomes. He has also promoted Desrigauds and Shafer to minor orders....