On June 7, 1841, Bishop John Chanche had been in Natchez for less than three weeks when he wrote to the directors of la Propagation de la Foi Society in France his first description of "the unfortunate diocese which has been lately entrusted to my care."
The bishop was immediately struck by the rich history of his see city, "so celebrated in the early missions to this continent," proposed at one time as the capital of New France… St. Mary's of Natchez Vol 1&2 By Dr. Charles E. Nolan
