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

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1861

pg 425       houses were left in a shocking state of neglect; the efforts of 
             the most devoted members were thwarted; each superior lost courage 
             when, year after year, he saw not only the precarious condition of 
             the establishment, but the unmistakable proofs of bad will on the 
             part of the ecclesiastical authorities, whose object was 
             perseveringly followed up, to drive the community out by a system 
             of mean annoyances.
                  This state of things was communicated to F. Sorin when he was 
             still in Rome.  He was on the point of making it known, but 
             preferred to allow some time yet, to see the evil with his own 
             eyes, and to seek once more what remedy could be applied before 
             laying, the matter before the tribunal that could be right do the 
             community justice.  Moreover the rent was paid up to the month of 
             May, and till then there was nothing to fear.
                  On his return in April the civil was had broken out, 
             everything was changed in the United States, commerce was entirely