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

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1847

pg 109      the time being, had not remained idle.  In the month of January, 
              1847, in daily expectation of a colony from Sainte Croix, he 
             opened the college with the help of English-speaking professors, 
             to whom he gave lessons in Latin and theology.  He even succeeded 
             this first year in gathering together about fifty pupils at the 
             rate of $75 each.
                  It was in the middle of the occupations of managing this 
             college and of attending to four adjacent congregations that F. 
             Saunier found him, having been sent to him by the Mother House.
                  A man of talent, prudence, and tact could even then have 
             succeeded in arranging things satisfactorily.  The prospects of 
             the college were good, Mr. Delaune was willing to remain there for 
             at least another year for the sake of the Society, on condition 
             that he received a modest compensation; and before the end of that 
             time all the debts of the college could be easily cleared off.  We 
             may as well say it: the prospect of such a fair future turned the 
             head of the poor new-comer.  It appears indubitable that at his 
             arrival at St. Mary's he conceived that project of having himself 
             made president, independent of the Lake, whence, he expected to