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

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1855

pg 237            The conditions were signed by both contracting parties, and 
             in consequence four Brothers were got ready to proceed thither in 
             the month of May following, 1849.  Bro. Vincent was named 
             director, to be assisted by BB. Basil, Theodule, de Sales, and 
             Aloysius Gonzaga.  The distance of New Orleans from Notre Dame is 
             nearly 1500 miles.  The journey at that time took from twelve to 
             fifteen days, that is to say, about three times as long as it now 
             requires.
                  The city has about 180,000 inhabitants, from all the nations 
             of the globe, but especially Creoles and natives of France.  The 
             French, Irish, and German Catholics form one third of the 
             population.  Every one knows the opulence of Louisiana, of which 
             it is the principal point, and what is no less notorious is the 
             unhealthiness of the country, which is ravaged almost every year 
             by the yellow fever or the cholera; and another thing that is no 
             secret is the depravity of morals of a great number of the 
             inhabitants of a country in which the evil passions are more 
             favored than in any other part of the Union.  Imagine to yourself 
             a big city in which abound luxury and the products of all the