Chronicles of Notre Dame du Lac
Edward Sorin, CSC -- Translated by John M. Toohey, CSC, 1895

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1842-1843

pg 39             There was nothing very encouraging in this reception.  To 
             look at it from a human standpoint, it would have been wiser to 
             retreat without delay; but even though they anticipated still 
             greater opposition in the future, our pious champions, who knew 
             how to hope against hope, cheered themselves with the 
             expectation of a future, more meritorious and more glorious for 
             their holy cause.  They placed all their confidence in heaven and 
             let their neighbors talk and rave.
                  Let us say some words about he past history of Notre Dame du 
             Lac.  The ground was purchased in 1830, '31, and '32 by the Rev. 
             T. E. Badin, the first priest ordained in United States.  Sold 
             afterwards by him in 1836 to the venerable Bishop Brute, founder 
             of the diocese of Vincennes, it was afterwards transferred by the 
             latter to the Rev. Mr. Boche, on condition that a college should 
             be built thereon within the space of two years--which condition 
             not having been complied with, Mgr. Dela Hailandiere had a right 
             to offer it in 1842 to the Society of Notre Dame de Sainte Croix, 
             with the proviso that in the same space of time a college and a