Norfolk Gazette And Publick Ledger

MR. Jefferson and The Nuns of St. Ursula.

We have heard the following correspondence spoken of in several places, and have heard even some democrats laugh at the sanctified style of President. For our own part we have read it with much pleasure: it contains just such sentiments as the President of the United States ought to hold upon such an occasion. Those who laugh at the term "holy-sisters", coming from Mr. Jefferson, ought to recollect that that being the only proper manner of addressing them, to have omitted it, or to have substituted any other would have been a miserable affectation.--As ridiculous as that of Mr. John Randolph jun. when addressing the late President.

To the editor of the Louisiana Monitor.

New-ORLEANS, September 12.

SIR,

The following memorial was addressed by the Ursuline Nuns of this city to the President of the United States. As the memorial itself, together with the president's very friendly and encouraging answer, may afford pleasure to the inhabitants of Louisiana, all of whom, doubtless, take a deep interest in the prosperity of this religious establishment, I request you to insert them in your next number both in French and English.

I am, Sir,

Your humble servant

PATRICK WALCH.

Vicar general.

To THOMAS JEFFERSON, president of the United States of America.

SIR,

Emboldened by the favourable mention you have been pleased to make of their order, the Nuns of Ursula at New-Orleans take the liberty of addressing you on a subject highly interesting to their institution. They believe that without any direct application; the treaty of cession and the sense of justice which marks the character of the United States, would have secured to them the property they now possess; but considering it a sacred deposit, they would fail in a duty they deem essential, were they to omit requesting that it may be formally confirmed to them and their successors, and that you may be pleased to communicate this request to the congress of the United States in such a manner as you may deem proper.

Their request is dictated by no wish of personal gratification or private aggrandizement. Secluded from the world, its luxuries and vanities, wealth and the enjoyments it brings, would to them have no attraction: devoted to religious duties, temporal advantages are not the objects of their pursuits; but bound by a solemn obligation to employ their revenue in charitable uses, and their time in the education of youth, they cannot but be anxious to know that the property which is to enable them to fulfil these duties will be secured to them.

It is not, therefore, their own cause, but that of the publick which they plead. It is the cause of the orphan, of the helpless child of want, of the many who may be snatched from the pains of vice and infamy under their guidance, and be trained up in the habits of virtue and religion to be happy and useful: of society which will be freed from the burthen of indigence and the depredations of vice: of their country itself, which cannot but acquire honour in fostering and protecting such beneficient purposes.

These considerations they know, sir, will have weight with you. They anticipate your support, because they deserve it: and they conclude with their ardent wishes for your personal happiness and the prosperity of the country whose affairs you direct.

They have the honour to be with the highest respect,

Sir,

Your most obedient servants.

New-Orleans, June, 1804.

To the Superiour Therese de St. Xavier Prajon, and the Nuns of the order of St. Ursula, at New-Orleans.

I have received, holy sisters, the letter you have written me, wherein you express anxiety for the property invested in your institution by the former governments of Louisiana. The principles of the constitution and government of the United States are a sure guarantee to you that it will be preserved to you sacred and inviolate, and that your institution will be permitted to govern itself according to its own voluntary rules without interference from the civil authority.

Whatever diversity of shade may appear in the religious opinions of our fellow-citizens, the charitable objects of your institutions cannot be indifferent to any, and its furtherance of the wholesome purposes of society, by training up its younger members in the way they should go, cannot fail to ensure it the patronage of the government it is under; be assured it will meet all the protection which my duties can give.
assured it will incur all the protection which my office can give it.

I salute you, holy sisters, with friendship and respect

(Signed)

TH: JEFFERSON.