Archbishop Ambrose Maréchal of Baltimore has written to the Sacred Congregation that the Catholic missionaries find that many of the Indians in Michigan have not contracted matrimony, or have done so with person in the first degree of affinity or with persons not baptized and the missionaries are unable to apply remedies to the situation because they lack faculties. When this was brought to the attention of Pope Leo XII, he decided that all the faculties for the revalidation of matrimony be given to Fenwick with the power of subdelegating to the missionary of whom notice is sent to the Archbishop of Baltimore. Since this is an important matter there is attached a detailed instruction on the manner in which these faculties are to be used. No. 14. Archbishop Peter Capranus signs as secretary. The enclosure follows:` Capranus, Peter. Archbishop of Iconia, Secretary of the Congregation of the Propaganda, Rome, to Bishop Edward Dominic Fenwick, Cincinnati, Ohio, An instruction concerning the sanctiones of marriages in the territory of Michigan. Since Fenwick is administrator of the territory of Michigan and the Northwest he has found in that region many who have not been married, or who have done so with impediments of affinity ex licita copula or with non-baptized persons. At the request of Archbishop Ambrose Maréchal of Baltimore for Fenwick the faculties granted by Pope Leo XII on Dec. 10, 1826 to Fenwick may be subdelegated for curing these marriages. His Holiness realizing the danger that might arise from such knowledge where the parties think they are married validly, gives the faculty of curing these marriages in radice secretly and of so subdelegating this faculty. In this way the couples are not bound to renew their consent formally. Those who may be subdelegated to use this faculty must use great care. The marriages which have been healed in this way must be listed in a secret book of the parish or mission to which the parties belong or where they have been publicly married so that in case of future difficulty the contracting parties cannot ask to have their marriages dissolved when they find out about the impediments. In this way it is hoped the whole matter may be brought to a proper conclusion., Note on back in Fenwick's hand For Father Frederick Rese and for Father Gabriel Richard. Also in Rese's hand The church at Arbre Croche, Michigan is obliged to say four masses a year for the repose of the soul of Father John Baptist Clicteur. :: III-2-f D.S. Latin 3pp. 8vo.