Penalver y Cardenas, Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans

to Father Pierre Didier, O.S.B., Pastor of St. Louis
Dossier of correspondence as follows:

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1795 Sep. 3

Penalver y Cardenas, Luis Bishop
(New Orleans)

to (Father Pierre Didier, O.S.B.)
Pastor of St. Louis
The Bishop decrees:
1) That to fulfill a Royal Order and at the same time to get information about the members of the parish of the Diocese, the Pastor of St. Louis is to draw up a census of the white, brown, half-breed, and slaves, free; and another of sexes and ages according to the enclosed formula. Furthermore, the Pastor is to draw up another similar formula at the end of the census as the resume of it.
2) That the Pastor is to repeat this every year specifying the decrease or increase the population may have over that of the antecendent year.
3) That the Pastor must notify the Bishop which parishioners have not fulfilled the precept of confession and communion, how many non-Catholics are there in the parish, and, finally, about the state and needs of the parish.
4) That the pastor is to keep the present letter in his Archives and answer the Bishop. (Marked #2) Signed by the Bishop of Louisiana.

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1795 Nov. 12

Penalver y Cardenas, Luis Bishop
(New Orleans)

to Father Pedro (Pierre) Didier
(St. Louis, Illinois)
The Bishop states:
1) That he has founded suspicion that Buenaventura Collell, brother of a captain of the Regiment of Louisiana, has got married in that parish. If it is true, the pastor, Didier, is supposed to draw up a copy of its record which must be included in the book of marriages.
2) That Father Didier is to send to the Bishop the original proceedings of the matrimonial papers as well as the paternal licenses, certification of Baptism of both Buenaventura and his wife, in one word, all the procedures carried out.
3) That Father Didier has to keep this subsigilo and send all right away to the Bishop. (Marked #3). Signed by the Bishop of Louisiana.

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1795 Nov. 16

Penalver y Cardenas, Luis Bishop
(New Orleans)

to (Father Pierre Didier)
(St. Louis, Illinois)

1) The Bishop states that he was notified on Sept. 8 by order of His Majesty of the treaty of peace concluded between Spain and the French Republic.
2) So that he orders Father Didier to say a high Mass and the Te Deum to the most divine transsubstantiated Lord in action of grace. (Marked #4). Signed by the Bishop of Louisiana.

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1795 Dec. 15

Penalver y Cardenas, Luis Bishop

to Father (Pierre Didier)
(St. Louis, Illinois)

The Bishop thanks Didier for the judicious expression of his letter of Nov. 20 and assures him of his readiness to serve him. (Marked #5) Signed by the Bishop of Louisiana.

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1795 Dec. 21

Penalver y Cardenas, Luis Bishop
(New Orleans)

to Father (Pierre Didier)
(St. Louis, Illinois)

The Bishop states that he is sending instructions and regulations for Didier's guidance, that he must keep in his Archives and notify the Bishop of the receipt. (Marked #6). Signed by the Bishop of Louisiana. (Copy of regulations are filed separately because they are not certainly the copy sent to Didier).

IV-5-d D.S. 5pp. 8vo. (Spanish)
2

1795 Dec. 21

(Penalver y Cardenas), Luis, Bishop of
New Orleans, Louisiana

Schedule of fees in the Cathedral and other churches under his jurisdiction, set up by Penalver. 37 regulations concerning burials, marriages, and baptisms. No. 16 (cites) the royal order of March 10, 1794.

IV-5-d D.S. 3pp. 4to. (Spanish)