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YEAR 1763, JULY 9th.

EXPLUSION OF JESUITS FROM LOUISIANA
PETITION OF ATTORNEY GENERAL.

The Jesuits having been expelled from France by
edict of the King dated February 2, 1763, the
same measure was extended to the colonies, so the
Attorney General presents reasons to the Superior
Council of the Province of Louisiana, showing
voilation by the Jesuits of Letters Patent grant-
ed to them and recorded in Louisiana in 1727 to
establish a hospital under supervision of a Supe-
rior with the assistance of a brother Jesuit,
but no rector's functions permitted to them.

Having established a large building with six
priest and having baptised and married their
slaves, and by so doing encroaching upon the
rights of the Capuchins, the Attorney General
claims that to be a plain violation of their
grant.

Furthermore, he claims they own no concessions in
Louisiana, that their Superior has had himself
appointed Grand Vicar and that they have abused
of their authority by subduing and overpowering
other missionaries and those that could not be
expelled by their credit.

They are charged with being disturbers of the
peace and independent of any court of justice.
The Attorney General demands that their letters
Patent and their recording be declared null and
void.

They to be put aboard the first ship sailing for
France, their passage paid and a six months

(cont'd.)

maintainance; they may go to the King and sup-
plicate for an annuity; their properties mova-
bles and immovables seized and sold: the proceed-
ings to be remitted to the King to be disposed
as he saw fit.

The decree to be given to to be posted and publish-
ed at New Orleans and at all posts of the province
of Louisiana and a collated copy of said decree to
be sent to the honorable Monsieur de Choiseul,
Minister and Secretary of Navy in Paris.

Lafreniere.

NOTE: While the Attorney General's petition
states that the Jesuits are disturbers
of peace and own no concessions in the
province of Louisiana, he makes no
specific criminal charges against them
to prove it and their plantation above
New Orleans was sold for 180,000 dollars
and another one at Illinois for 65,000
dollars.

Not entered in Louisiana Historical Quarterly.
4 pp
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