He sends Lefevere the decisions and decrees asked for last September. The first document entitled "Resolutiones Sacrae Congregationis de Propaganda fide" applies to all that part of North American which formerly formed the old diocese of Quebec, Canada of which Detroit was a part. The Sacred Congregation makes a great distinction between the parishes canonically erected and those served only as missions. In Canada today there no longer remains any doubt in this matter and all the bishops are perfectly agreed, having taken the decisions herein submitted to Lefevere, as their rule. Lefevere will see that in reference to mixed marriages they have, for the regularly erected parishes, the decree of Benedict XIV which gets them out of difficulty and which has been accepted in all the dioceses of Quebec and consequently at Detroit since 1765 - the decree of Clement XIII being dated November 29, 1764. The decree "Tametsi" of the Council of Trent had probably been published for a long time in all the dioceses of Ireland except those of Dublin, Kildare, Leighlin, Ossory, Ferns, and Meath and in the wardenship of Galway. Power sends the proof that it was published even in these last named dioceses since December 2, 1827 and that the decree had begun to be in effect January 1, 1828, thirty days after its publication in each parish of these dioceses following the text of the law in question. So that the Council is in force at least as to the decree "Tametsi" in all Ireland since that time: the proof is evident in the pages sent, marked No. 2. Lefevere will find another decree marked No. 3, dated March 19, 1785 whereby mixed marriages contracted even in that part of Ireland where the decree "Tametsi" was accepted at the time, are declared valid. Finally Lefevere will find a solution of the question whether it is sometimes permitted to give the nuptial blessing outside of Mass. He will see that at least in the case where a Mass for the dead with the body present concurs with the Mass for the couple, it is permitted to give it. This is granted where the necessity of the moment and the impossibility of fulfilling both obligations at one time because there is only one priest in the place. The Church does not wish those being married to be deprived of prayers and special blessings of the Church under such circumstances. In their missions it is not just the simple concurrence of a Mass for the dead and a Mass for the couple to be married but very urgent circumstances and a moral and sometimes physical impossibility which prevents the celebration of Holy Mass; it seems to Power that if the Sacred Congregation made a similar declaration for the case submitted to it, it would make one even more liberal for the missions where the poor people marry many times only when they can get a priest. In Canada they insist that the parties assist at Mass and receive the nuptial blessing when it can be done. If they are obliged to marry outside of Mass because of some unforeseen circumstance or because they cannot do otherwise, they raise no difficulties about giving the blessing in question by pronouncing all the prayers in the missal. The decision of the Sacred Congregation is marked No. 4. Power would have sent all this sooner but immediately upon his return to Toronto he had to go the Kingston, Ontario, Canada where he hopes to succeed in getting a bill passed to authorize the bishop to possess all the goods given to the churches, colleges, and hospitals, etc., in his name. Later will come the Department of Education which will give them more trouble perhaps. Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada is still vacant. Twice Power has been on the point of sending really edifying priests there but in one case he was unable to obtain the consent of the superior and in another case, the consent of the bishop. He asks Lefevere to encourage the Jesuits to continue their services in this place until Power can find some one who fits this important mission. The bearer of this letter is a little Canadian who knows perfectly the language of the Indians of Lake Huron and Lake Superior. He is to speak Indian with the Fathers so that by spring some one of them would be ready to begin the important mission that they have taken over voluntarily. Bishop Remigius Gaulin of Kingston is very weak; he is still in Lower Canada. His coadjutor Bishop Patrick Phelan is embarrassed because all papers are locked up. They hope that affairs will end advantageously for Bishop Gaulin in January. In a postscript Power sends his congratulations on the nomination of Bishop John Martin Henni to the bishopric of Milwaukee. Lefevere will be relieved of the responsibility and Wisconsin Territory will no longer rest on his shoulders. Father Francis Norbert Blanchet, Vicar General of the Oregon Territory has just been named Vicar Apostolic of that vast region, Father Peter John DeSmet, S.J. having succeeded in throwing the burden on other shoulders. In this letter are included the copies of the documents in Latin mentioned in the letter. 1. The resolution of the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda on mixed marriages and other marriages contracted in Canada in answer to the questions of the Archbishop of Guebec, dated November 17, 1835. 2. The declaration of the Archbishop David Murray of Dublin that he decree "Tametsi" is in effect in certain counties of Ireland. 3. The decree of the Sacred Congregation concerning mixed marriages in Ireland, dated March 19,1785 as promulgated in the specified counties on December 2, 1827 with authentication of Bishop Power on November 12, 1843, and 4. A copy of a decree of the same congregation about giving the nuptial blessing outside of Mass when a requiem with the body present must be celebrated, dated March 13, 1819. All documents copied by J.J. Hay, Secretary to Bishop Power. :: III-2-h A.L.S. Inclosure in Latin 3pp. 8vo. 10pp. 4to. 10