I am persuaded that you are not ignorant of the cruelties and vexations which the Spaniards have occasioned and still cause the natural born Frenchmen, Acadians and Germans to suffer in Louisania: They force them to remain with them contrary to their inclinations, They deprive them of their estates by continual rapines, and they deprive them from every exercise of Religion by leaving them without a pastor.

Since the foundation of this Colony, the Capuchins have always had the Benefices of all the establishments which have been erected; I have passed Thirty three years there, Twenty three of which in quality of superior and apostolical prothonotary with powers of confirmation. When cession was made of this country to Spain His Catholic Majesty promised us in full council that he would charge nothing in the administration and that all the States should enjoy their priviledges and prerogatives; But this was a snare of which all the Colonists are this day the victims.

After this deception on our Religions died the Spaniards seized their moveables and slaves reducing indistinctly to slavery those even who had acquired their liberty. In short being left alone with an old man of eighty, The Sieur Galvez Governor and nephew of the Minister of the same name seized on all the wealth of my mission, consisting in a large quantity of moveables, in a fine House, and a hundred head of slaves. On this occasion notwithstanding the violence of this Governor, I repaired to the court of Madrid, for to demand justice But the Minister Uncle to the plunderer prevented me from speaking to the King and caused me to be conducted in a magnificent Equipage to Langrec in Champagne from whence I had departed for Louisiana more than thirty years since.

As the Eastern border of the river belongs by the treaty of peace to the United States of America and as all the French inhabitants of the Western border wait but the moment to be able to pass with security over to the American shore, I implore the protection of the Congress for the inhabitants and for myself for the purpose of establishing themselves at Manchac, Baton Rouge Point Coupée, The Natchez with liberty to exercise their religion—It is these Sir with two Frigates within the Bar, the true means of making the entire conquest of Louisiana without firing a gun, The savages being determined not to leave a single Spaniard as soon as they shall be seperated from the French. I offer to the United States all my titles as well as those of my mission, Beseeching you Sir to interpose your good offices with Congress in favor of the rights of nations and of humanity, having nothing more at heart than to assure you that I have the honor to be devoted by Sir Your most obedient humble servant