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 ACCOUNT OF THE VOYAGE OF THE URSULINES 
 TO NEAV ORLEANS IN 1727. 
 
 [Translatod by Jonis Gilmauy Shea from the edition of the original manu- 
 script printed in Shea's Crumoisy Series, 1859.] 
 
 On the 12th of Jarniary, 1727, all the religious destined to 
 found the monastery in Louisiana, assembled in the Infirmary 
 of the Nuns at Ilenncbon to acknowlrdge as fii-st Superior, 
 Mother Mary Trancliepain of St. Augustine, who had been 
 confirmed in two lettei-s of Mgr. the Bishop of Qu-ibee— one 
 to Rev. Father Baubois, the other to that Mother. All the 
 professed nuns, one nr vice and two seculars, came to make 
 their submission to her accoi-ding to their rank in profession, 
 as follows : 
 
 Sister Mai-garct Judde of St. John the Evangelist, professed 
 nun from the Ilonen conimtinity. 
 
 Sister Marianne Boulanger of St. Angelica, from Rouen. 
 
 Sister Magdalen de Maliieu of St. Francis Xavior, professed 
 of the Havre community. 
 
 Sister Rence (iui(iuel of St. Mary, professed fi-om Vannes. 
 
 Sister Margaret de Salaon of St. Teresa, f i-om Ploermel. 
 
 Sister Cecilia Cavalier of St. Joseph, professed from the 
 Elboouf community. 
 
 Sister Marianne Dain of St. Martha, professed from the 
 Hennebon community. 
 
 Sister Mary Ilachard of St. Stanislaus, novice. 
 
 Sister Claudia Massy, secular, choir. 
 
 Sister Anne, seculai-, lay sister. 
 
 All the above-named religious came from France and 
 founded the Ursuline Monastery at New Orleans, August 7, 
 1727. They were all professed members of the Paris congre- 
 gation, except Sister St. Mary, who belonged to that of Bor- 
 
 1 
 
 ■;* I 
 
 w 
 
2 
 
 deaux, but who joined the others under condition of taking 
 the fourth vow, and conforming in all respects to tiie Paris rule. 
 They arrived at New Orleans in company with Fathers 
 Tartar'in aud Doutreleau, most worthy missionaries of the So- 
 ciety of Jesus, after a painful voyage of iive months, and they 
 would infallibly have perished but for the protection of the 
 IBlessed Virgin* and St. Francis Xavier, whom they invoked in 
 idl dangers. They came under the authorization of Mgr. John 
 de la Croix ae Sa'int Vallier, Bishop of Quebec, who admihis- 
 tered the diocese. The gentlemen of the " Compagnie des In- 
 des" were the founders, by the contract Avhich they made with 
 Eev. Father Baubois, Vicar-General of Mgr. the Bishop of 
 Quebec, and Superior -General of the Louisiana missions. 
 This lleverend Jesuit Father, animated with zeal for the glory 
 of God and the salvation of souls, came from New Orleans to 
 France to obtain an establishment of his order and of the 
 TJrsuline Nuns for the education of youth. God blessed his 
 good intentions by enabling him to succeed completely iii his 
 undertaking, notwithstanding a host of crosses and oppositions 
 which he had to suffer from the persons most necessary to his 
 work. But after a year's exertion by the Eeverend Father 
 and the Nuns, after a thousand impediments raised by the 
 Lord Bishops, who, having first approved the project, subse- 
 quently raised many dithculties, when it came to giving obedi- 
 .ences to the Religious of their dioceses. On one occasion they 
 were obliged to appeal to his Eminence Cardinal Fleury, Min- 
 ister of State. 
 
 The " Compagnie des Indes " esteeming that the most solid 
 basis of the colony of Louisiana is what tends to advance the 
 glory of God and the edification of the people, such as the es- 
 tablishment of the Reverend Capuchin and Jesuit Fathers, 
 whose zeal and charity assure spiritual succor to the people, 
 and inspire great hope of converting the Indians, and wish- 
 ing also by a new and pious establishment to relieve the sick 
 poor and at the same time provide for cho education of youth, 
 welcomed aud accepted the IJj-suline Nuns. 
 
8 
 
 The Company agrees to support six Religious, including 
 the Supei-iur ; to pay their passage and that of four servants 
 to attend them on tlie voyage ; and moreover to pay the pass- 
 age of those who, for any reason, might desire to return to 
 IVance. It was agreedttliat one of the Religious ehould be 
 Treasurer (Economc) of the Hospital, that she should have 
 charge of all its temporal interests, and should present her ac- 
 counts to the officers monthly ; that two others should be con- 
 stantly in attendance on the sick ; that there should be one 
 for the poor-school, and another to act as assistant, to replace 
 the others in case of sickness, and relieve them when over- 
 tasked. When the Religious can do so conveniently, they 
 shall, if they deem it proper, take young ladies as boarders, 
 but no one'of the Sisters appointed to thv^ care of the sick is 
 to be taken from that duty and assigned to ^he care and edu- 
 cation of the boarders. 
 
 On the 9th of August, 1727, the holy Sacrifice of the Mass 
 was offered for the iirst time in a hall of the house where we 
 were staying till the new monastery was built. They deferred 
 placing 'the Blessed Sacrament there till October 5th in the 
 same year, when the little tabernacle was prepared; and on 
 that day the Rev. Father Baubois, our most worthy Superior, 
 assigned to the care of the whole commnnity by Mgr. the 
 Bishop of Quebec, and acknowledged with the ordinary cere- 
 monies, left us this precious depesit. He also confirmed Sis- 
 ter Mary Tranchepain of St. Augustine, as Superior. 
 
 RELATION OF THE VOYAGE OF THE FOUNDKESSES OF NEW ORLEANS, 
 WRITTEN TO TUE URSULINES OF FRANCE, BY THE FIRST SU- 
 PERIOR, MOTHER SAINT AUGUSTINE. 
 
 After having spent some time with the good Ursulines of 
 
 . , we embarked February 22, 1727; but as the wind 
 
 shifted, it was decided not to set sail till next day. This gave 
 us time to arrange ourselves in our little apartment. This 
 was a place that they had enclosed for us between decks; we 
 
 
found oiirpclvcs somewhat cramped, but we had it all to our- 
 selves, which gave us tnuch pleasure. ' 
 
 We set saif, February 23(1, at two o'clofk iu the afternoon ; 
 the weather was beautiful, and we went on deck to enjoy the 
 air; but half a league from L'Orient we struck a rock ; the 
 shock was severe and the alarm general. At the sa.ne t^ime 
 the sails were furled. This being perceived from the har- 
 bor of L'Orient, they came to our r.ssistance, and exerted 
 theme-elves so vigorously that we were delivered froni this 
 first fright, aTid enabled to keep on our way. Then each one 
 be-an to pay tribute to the sea. None of us escaped, and tlie 
 least sick were Sisters Boulanger and Ilachard, who got oH 
 
 with a slight nausea. 
 
 Meanwhile the winds changed and became dead against us. 
 The vessel was constantly tossing, and gave lurches that sent 
 us over each other. Scarcely was the soup on the table when 
 a pitch would upset it. These little accidents and others 
 made us laugh in spite of the seasickness which is a violent 
 disease, and brings one almost to extremity: but when it is 
 known, no one takes alarm, for people do not die of it, 1 
 was the one who suffered most: but that did not shake my 
 vocation : our Lord infuses something indescribable into all 
 we do for Him, that sweetens pain itself : my Sisters experi- 
 enced this even more than 1 did, because they deserved it more. 
 It was thus my consolation to see that in spite of discomfort, 
 sickness caused by our long voyage, in spite of encounters 
 with pirates, not one repented the sacrifice which she had 
 made to God of her wliole being, or was troubled at the dan- 
 gers we ran. It was on one of these perilous occasions that we 
 made a vow to the Blessed Virgin and to Saint Francis Xavier, 
 in order to ment their protection. 
 
 Meanwhile our vessel made scarcely any progress, and in a 
 fortnight we sailed no further than we ought to have done in 
 three days. Our provisions were running short, water espe- 
 cially : and we were limited like the crew to a pint a day, and 
 very wretched water at that. Our captain was forced to put 
 
in at the Island of Madeira, three hundred Ica-ncs from Lon- 
 ent. As soon as the chief city on that ishuid discernedus, a 
 boat was sent to know what we wished. They were satished 
 and returned. Tlien the .captain fired seven cannon to sahite 
 the town, which answered in tlie same style. When those who 
 eatne to see us, reported that there was a •lleligious Conuiiunity 
 on board and some Jesuit missionaries, as those lathers have 
 a famous college in that city, they were not long m paying us 
 a visit, before our Reverend Fathers had time to anticipate 
 theni Kothing could be more gracious than these bathers 
 were: onlv one among them spoke French, but he said a 
 thousand courteous tilings to us in the name of all. ihey 
 beo-ged us to land and take up our abode w.tli them, but we 
 thanked them. Our two Fathers went there the next day to 
 dine and were received with all possible hospitality and inag- 
 nificence. We shared in their generosity, for they themselves 
 brought us large baskets full of all kinds of refreshments. 
 During the three davs we spent in the harbor, these generous 
 Fathei-s paid us several visits, and every day they seemed to 
 find new pleasure in praising the zeal which had induced us 
 to undertake such a long voyage. The greatest regret, he said, 
 that they felt, was their inability to render us greater service, 
 treating what they did as nothing compared to their good-wnl. 
 These Fathers wear large spectacles on the nose, in the 1 or- 
 tucniese style, and I noticed one who took his off in order to 
 read something, which made us laugh. Otherwise, their man- 
 Tier is nearly that of our French Fathers, except that they 
 wear their hair short. . , r -l 
 
 AVe also received a visit from all the pupils of the Jesuits: 
 they carry a rosarv in their hands, which gives them a good 
 appearance ; but for all that, we are told that they are not the 
 niore devout. The most notable gentleman of the island paid 
 us a visit : but we did not see any ladies ; in this comitry 
 they are not visible and are seen only behind gratings, ihey 
 never go out except to mass, and all together, so that they 
 form a kind of procession. They walk enveloped in great 
 veils, in silence or saying their beads. 
 
 II 
 
6 
 
 There are two communities on this iBland. Tlie principal 
 one is of the order of St. Chire, and the Abbess is a Po.tu- 
 guese princess. As they have greater freedom than secular 
 women, their manners are consequently more easy. They soon 
 received intellij^'enceof our arrival, for the Abbess wrote me in 
 a most polite ajid flattering manner to invite me and all my 
 religions to her convent. Her style is very frietidly, and she 
 lavished praises on us. I replied as well as I could, and slie 
 received my letter with all marks of esteem and friendship 
 that I could have desired from one of my own ecpials. The 
 next day a young woman from on board, going to visit her in 
 my nanie, was loaded with attentions and presents. They re- 
 peated to her their pressing invitation t<> induce ns to visit, 
 their convent; but not thinking that we ought to do so, and 
 the crew having laid in the necessary supplies, we thanked 
 the city by tiring a cannon, and made for the high sea to con- 
 tinue our voyage. The Avind was favorable only two days ; 
 then it changed^ and we were a long time making 200 leagues, 
 at the end of which we descried a pirate. We immediately 
 made the ordinary preparations for defense ; each one armed 
 himself, and the cannons were loaded. It was determined to 
 shut us up in the safest part between decks during the 
 action. AVonien bade farewell to their husbands. Mile. La 
 Chaise, who wished to join us, wept bitterly fo. fear of losing 
 her brother, who is one of the officers of our vessel. As for 
 us, thaidvs be to our Lord, not one of us showed any weak- 
 ness. After all, the pirate, seeing himself not strong enough, 
 stood off, and left us at liberty : a sad liberty for nuns to be 
 on a vessel where it is impossible <o have a moment to your- 
 eelf. However, we performed our spiritual exercises, but amid 
 the dissipation that prevails among peoi)!e who thiid-- only ol 
 amusing themselves to pass the time, and this constituted 
 our greatest pain. 
 
 At last we reached the tropic. It was Good Friday, and the 
 holiness of the day having prevented the baptismal ceremony 
 of which you have doubtless heard, it was deferred till Satur- 
 
day afternoon. I will not f,nve you the details of this ccro- 
 inoiiy, which in merely a diverMon for the puilorn, the more bo as 
 you "cannot obtain exemption except hy money, and as we 
 numbered more than twenty, includinj^ servantw, those of the 
 Fathers as well as ours, we had a nice little sum to pay. 
 Those who were unwillinjjt to j;ive anythin<; had several buck- 
 ets of water poured over them ; but the great heat may have 
 made the bath agreeal)le. 
 
 Some days later we had a second alarm, by meeting a vessel 
 which followed us closely. We put ourselves on the defens- 
 ive, and when the vessels came near each other, we were s^hut 
 np in the place assigned to us. As our vessel was about to 
 tire, the enemy sheered oft" a little, which gave us time to get 
 supper. As tlie enemy was seen approaching from time to 
 time, a strict watch was kept all night : we went to sleep, ex- 
 pecting all the while that they would come to rouse us. The 
 next d!iy the enemy bore asvay, the sea continuing to excite 
 alarm, and so furious at times, that we expected to be swal- 
 lowed up. Jhit we suffered most from the length of the voy- 
 age, sighing more and more for that land so long and so 
 ardently desired, which made us rcdoul)le oiir prayers to ob- 
 tain more favorable weather. Our Lord sometimes granted 
 us several hours oi favorable wind, and by the assistance of 
 this succor we reached liay Saint Louis, where we were to 
 anchor. As there was no religious house and no person of 
 our acquaintance at that place, we intended to land oidy to 
 take a stroll, and to oversee the necessary clothes-washing. 
 But the very evening of the day we anchored, the Directors 
 of the (.^ompany asked leave to pay us a visit, and declared 
 that they wished us to lodge with them as long as the vessel 
 remained in the roadstead. ^YG could not resist such pressing 
 offers and promised to go there the next day. These two 
 gentlemen are perfect models of politeness and merit. They 
 give us one magniiicent entertainment, and during the fort- 
 night we spent with them, we ate in private: that is to say, 
 with our Reveren<l Fathers only, and we were lavi.-hly regaled. 
 
8 
 
 Two (lays after our arrival the Governor camo to pay us a 
 visit, lie is a Parisian gciitltMnati, soriiowliat in years, but 
 cnjnyin£f frond iiealtli, and of very courteous address. Ho 
 twice f?ave us dinner with French inao;nifieence, and we had 
 cotn})letc liberty to perform onr spiritual exercises. This f?en- 
 tleman manifested v. great desire to have an estal)lishinent of 
 Ilrsulincs in this country. Tlic Directors of the (V.mpany 
 have the same desire in order to educate the young creole girls 
 who show mucli aptness. AVc must hope that we shall have a 
 house of our order in this conntry. I say this, incidentally, 
 in order to intlame some with zeal for the salvation of souls. 
 What ha])piness to burn with ko noble a tire ! Tlie lack of 
 religion here ought to excite zeal : the most devout are those 
 whose lives are not scandalous. Tlio day wo dined at the 
 Governor's he wished ns to visit the fort, situated on the 
 sea, and which, according to connoisseurs, is something rare in 
 its way. We found two or three garrisons drawn up to 
 receive ns mider arms, the drums beating to do us greater 
 honor. 8ome refreshments were served to us. 
 
 At last we embarked on the 19th, loaded with courtesies 
 and presents : moreover, they offered ns various refreshments, 
 to alleviate the rest of our voyage, which was 500 leagues more. 
 
 The wind, at first favorable, became contrary, and calms 
 greatly retarded our progress. We encountered two hostile 
 ships, but Nve escaped from them by making ready to engage. 
 Notwithstanding this misadventure, we hoped to reach port by 
 the feast of Corpus Christi, hut our Lord reserved one more 
 trial for us to finish with, for the head winds, together with the 
 currents, drove us for all we could do on White Island, at the 
 very moment when we were impatiently expecting the pleas- 
 ure of beholding the first land in Mississippi. We felt great 
 joy on approaching that land, but alas ! how short was onr 
 joy ! and how dearly purchased. At the moment when we 
 least expected, when enjoying ourselves on deck, the vessel 
 suddenly struck so violently and repeatedly, that we thought 
 ourselves lost beyond all hope. 
 

 
 The captain and crew lowered the sails, and used many 
 maiHiMivres to extricate the vesBcl from its danger, hut all waa 
 uaelcHH, and hy nicans of the lead we found that the shii) was 
 five feet deep in the wind. ThcM-aptain resolved to unload her. 
 They hegan by the cannon, which were fastened to two pieces ol 
 wood Ho^that they c(.uld not sink and they were committed to 
 the sea. Then the ballast, composed of stones, lead, an(l iron, 
 was removed. As all this did not lighten the vessel sutHcient- 
 ly, they decided to throw overboard the boxes, which were 
 very numerous. Ours came first, so we had to make the tii-st 
 sacrifice. We did not take long to deliberate, and cheerfully 
 cinisented to see ourselves deprived of everything in order to 
 ])ractice stricter poverty. We had been assure.l that being so 
 near land, we need feel no fears for our lives; but we were to 
 leave the ship only when it came to the worst, as the island is 
 iidiabited only by very cruel Indians. At last, at the very 
 moment when we expected to see our boxes go over, the cap- 
 tain changed his mind, and threw overboard the sugar, which 
 formed a large part of the cargo. Our Keverend Fathers and 
 we lost a cask of 300 pounds which the Directors of the Com- 
 pany had given us. 
 
 For all that the ship remained too heavy and they agani 
 talked of our boxes, but by the permission of God, and the 
 protection of the Blessed Virgin, whom we invoked during 
 all this time, everv time they came to seize our trunks, the 
 captahi changed his mind, and made them take something 
 else. Sixty barrels of brandy and a large (luantity of salmon 
 were then thrown over, after which renewed efforts were 
 made to get the ship off. They succeeded at last, which tilled 
 us with great joy. This peril lasted twenty-four hours, and 
 few persons retired to sleep that night. 
 
 A few iiours afterward we resumed our route, but we had 
 not gone a quarter of a league before the vessel struck again 
 with such violent and repeated shocks, that we had no hope 
 left except in God's almighty power. Even the captain was 
 quite astonished to see the ship hold together so long: and he 
 
10 
 
 declared that nine out of ten would have gone to pieces. The 
 crew were all in consternation. As for myself, I avow that I 
 never saw death so near, and although I was always hoping 
 in the succor of the Blessed Virgin, the alarm depicted on 
 every countenance led me to believe that our last hour had 
 come. What gave me surest consolation was the magnanimity 
 of my Sisters, who constantly maintained themselves in a spirit 
 of sacrifice, with surprising peace and calm. Bnt our Lord 
 wi!« satisfied this time with our good-will, and gave His bless- 
 ing to the labors of the r^aptain, and the eiforts of the sailors 
 and pasEjngers, who did not spare themselves on these occa- 
 sions. Eev. Father Tartai-in was conspicuous. ^Ye were ex- 
 tricated from peril this time also, and the captain had the 
 *' Te Deum " chanted in thanksgiving. 
 
 After this last dange.-, the boat always went ahead, and an 
 officer had the lead in hand, till we got into deep Avater. 
 Then we ran out of water. Tiie heat was excessive : we suf- 
 fered greatly from thirst, and this mac' ) us exchange our wine 
 for water, but we could get it only bottle for bottle : and we 
 were fortunate to get it at that price. This lasted nearly tvo 
 weeks, for the winds and currents were almost constantly ad- 
 verse ; so that we had to anchor several times a day. At last 
 we came in sight of a land unknown to us, and which we sup- 
 posed to be inhabited by savages, on account of the great fires 
 blazing there. However, we sent a boat ashore for water. 
 
 Some hours after the l^oat left us, the wind became favora- 
 ble, and the captain not wishing to lose the chance of making 
 headway, fired a gun to warn the officer to return, and at tl;e 
 same time weighed anchor ; but the officer taking tho report 
 of the cannon for thunder, kept on toward land, leaving us in 
 great alarm, for the <^ea was furious ; however, he came off 
 again next day. This island is called St. PtOG.^ We remaiiied 
 there three or four days awaiting a favorable v/ind. 
 
 Having set sail we continued our route, and after a few 
 days we descried Isle Dauphine, and at the same time a brig- 
 antine comin'^ out to us. This sight filled us with joy, hoping 
 
11 
 
 to hear Bome news of our New Orleans. Our hope was not 
 vain, and we had the pleasure of seeing 'he brigaiitiue reach 
 our side, the captain proving to be one of ours. He asked to 
 pa-y his respects to us, and it was from him that we first re- 
 ceived the intelligence from Kev. Father Baubois, who was 
 impatiently awaiting us, that our residei.ce was all ready to 
 receive us, and that they had begun to build our monastery. 
 I avow thai it was the iirst exterior joy that I had tasted since 
 -we left France, and it was so deeply felt that it made me, as 
 -well as our Sisters, forget all our past sufferings and hardships. 
 We kept on, attended by the brigantine, toward Isle Dau- 
 phitie, where we lay to, in order to obtain water, fearing the 
 calms which are fre(pient in these parts. 
 
 We had scarcely anchored when a favorable breeze sprang 
 np ; we ke])t on to Balize, which we reached July 23, 1727, 
 five months, day for day, from our departure. Balize is a 
 port at the mouth of the Mississippi. Mr. Duverger, who was 
 in command there for the Company, at once came to see us, 
 and offered us his house till we could obtain conveyances to 
 transport us to Xew Orleans. We accepted the ofter so po- 
 l" ely made. We took a long boat with part of our baggage, 
 accompanied by Mr. Duverger. The weirJier was very bad, 
 the boat overloaded, the sailors tipsy, and we found ourselves 
 once more in iunrinent peril, from which we should not have 
 been extricated if Mr. Duverger had not put in at Cane 
 Island, near Balif^e. We had some difficulty in making land 
 on account of a contrary wind, and we ran the risk of passnig 
 the night there among the men employed in building a fort 
 under Mr. Duverger's direction. But that gentleman sent 
 for periaguas, and we had to separate into two parties. We 
 reached his home, and he treated us as well as he could. Mr. 
 Duverger is very generous, and although he^s young and un- 
 married, he leads a very correct and very secluded life, inces- 
 santly devoted to the duties confided to him. We remained 
 at his house till the 29th. Father Tartarin had gone on some 
 days before to inform Rev. Father Baubois of our arrival. It 
 
12 
 
 was an agreeable surprise, for our long voyage had alarmed 
 the whole conntry, and we were supposed to be lost. The 
 Rev. Father Baubois lost no time in sending for us, and being 
 unable to come in person on account of sickness, lie assigned 
 that duty to Mr. Massy, the brother of our postulant. This 
 gentleman handed me two letters— one from Mr. Perrier, 
 commandant of Louisiana, and Knight of St. Louis, and the 
 other from Mr. La Chaise, director-general. All manifested 
 a great impatience to see us, and as the long boat was too 
 small to hold all our party we had to separate. I took the 
 periagua with our five youngest Sisters, accompanied by Rev. 
 Father DoutrelQau, Brother Crucy, and a gentleman. Our 
 other Sisters took the long boat with Mr. Massy, our two fol- 
 lowers, and two servants of the Reverend Fathers. This little 
 passage, which was only thirty leagues, was attejided by in- 
 credible annoyance. As the long boat moved too slowly we 
 went on. We set out on St. Ignatius' day, but we had to lie 
 to every night, and one hour before sunset, in order to have 
 time to put up our mosquito nets, because you are attacked 
 by insects whose sting causes almost insupportable pain. We 
 slept twice amid mud and Avater that fairly soaked us, and 
 our mattresses were almost always floating in the water. All 
 this tries one at the time, but we are amply rewarded after- 
 ward by the pleasure we feel in each one's relating her little 
 adventures, and that we are utterly surprised at the strengtii 
 and courage /Inch God gives on such occasions : a clear proof 
 that He never fails us, and that He does not permit us to be 
 tempted above our strength, always bestowing graces in pro- 
 portion to the trials He sends us. 
 
 The ardent desire we felt to reach our destination made us 
 endure our pains with great joy. When we came within 
 eight or ten leagues of iSTew Orleans we began to see houses. 
 Then there was a competition where we should stop to enable 
 them to entertain us, and we were received everywhere with 
 a joy beyond all expression. Boarding scholars were promised 
 us from all sides, and some wisheu to confide the girls to us 
 
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18 
 
 at once We thus spent several days at various plantations. 
 At last Rev. Father Tartarin, who had gone ahead, returned 
 to inform n^ th.at Rev. Father Banbois was expecting us. We 
 accordingly set out at three o'clock in the n^orning, and ai^ 
 rived onMie 6th of August at live o'clock. Our Sisters did 
 not arrive till the next day. 
 
 It would be too prolix and even useless to endeavor to ex- 
 press the varied sentiments of my heart on beholding a 
 land for which I had sighed so many years. You have too 
 much zeal, my Reverend Mother, to doubt the excess of my 
 consolation on setting foot on land. We found few people, 
 on account of the hour ; and we made our way to Rev. h ather 
 Baubois' house, where we soon met him, coming to us leaning 
 on a cane, on account of his extreme feebleness. He looked 
 pale and reduced, but his face was soon lighted up with the 
 ioy he felt at seeing us. He made us take a little rest, and 
 had an excellent breakfast served, which was often interrupted 
 bv his friends, many of whom came to pay us their respects. 
 About ten or eleven o'clock the Rev. Father took us to our 
 abode It is a house that the Company has hired, while wait- 
 mn for the completion of our monastery. It is directly at one 
 end of the town, and the hospital at the other. We cannot, 
 therefore, assume the direction of it till our monastery is tin- 
 ished The settlers at New Orleans keep watch that we lack 
 nothinc^; there is a rivalry who shall send us most. This 
 generositv puts us under obligation to them almost all. Among 
 our most" devoted friends are the Commandant and his wife, 
 who are persons full of merit, and very agreeable company. 
 This gentleman has acquired the respect of tlie whole coun- 
 try which he traversed some months ago, and he has succeeded 
 in appeasing ,the troubles which prevailed in the city We 
 also receive much politeness and courtesy from Mr. La Chaise, 
 director-general of the Company; he has refused us nothing 
 that we have asked so far. In a word, everything leads us to 
 hope that our establishment will redound to the greater glory 
 of God ; and that in time it will effect great good for the sal- 
 
11 
 
 vation of souls, which is our chief aim. For this we need 
 prayers. I solicit them from you, my Eeverend Mother, and 
 hope that your zeal will obtain prayers for us from all the com- 
 munities of the order with which you are in correspondence. 
 
 I earnestly hope that the perusal of this letter may inflame 
 hearts with love for Jesus Christ, and prompt the Sisters, 
 whom He and His holy Mother have prepared for us, to come 
 to our assistance. Let the long voyage and hardships we have 
 endured repel no one. Oh ! if they only knew how magnifi- 
 cently God rewards what we do for Him, they would never 
 take into account all the hardships through which they must 
 go. As far as possible we shall take religious only of from 
 thirty to forty years. 
 
 Rev. Father Baubois says mass for us every day, but does 
 not leave us the Blessed Sacrament. May God be ever praised 
 and adored throughout the earth. 
 I have the honor to be, etc., 
 
 Sister Maey of St. Augustine Tr^iNCHepain 
 
 Superior. 
 
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