Dowling has Brownson's letter, in which he takes exception to some expressions found in the published report of a lecture Dowling delivered in the Church of SS. Peter and Paul, Detroit. In that lecture he found fault with the disposition sometimes evinced by Catholics to contend with one another, instead of directing their united energies against the common enemy and with that class of newspaper writers who seem to take special pleasure in attacking Catholic colleges and academies. Many of his hearers, being personally acquainted with Brownson and his work would naturally ask about him in this connection. Dowling's answer to this tacit objection, without taking direct issue with Brownson was to intimate that since his statements were not proved, it did not devolve on him to take them up; that they only had such value as they derived from Brownson's reputation as an observer, a scholar, and a writer. What qualification this implied some of his hearers no doubt were quite as competent to determine as himself. His words are not to be construed as a challenge for Brownson to prove what he said, and he disapproves of some of his statements and doubts very much whether they can be proved. But he could not challenge Brownson to prove them without entering into and encouraging domestic warfare among Catholics. Besides their relations are such that few would be edified by a public controversy carried on by a pastor of a church and a member of his congregation. The result would be equally disastrous no matter which of them might carry his point. If, however, Brownson thinks that honor demands that he undertake to prove every statement of his which may be criticized, he is not without grounds, since a professor at Mount St. Mary's Seminary has already sufficiently opened up the subject in the Catholic Review. Dowling wishes nevertheless that Brownson would consider him outside the field of any possible controversy. In return for Brownson's frankness, Father Dowling states precisely what he objected to in Brownson's Introduction to the Souvenir Volume and gives his reasons for the objections; and trusts Brownson's discretion on the matter. This letter is evidently a copy of Dowling's original, in the handwriting of Brownson. :: III-3-d Autograph Letter 9pp. 12mo.