Count Felix de Merode died yesterday of pleurisy. This death is a great loss to the country which he edified by his faith, charity and patriotism. Two weeks ago, De Stas dined at the home of the Count who wished to see him to learn about the work of the projected American College at Louvain . De Stas showed him the letter of December 9 and the circular addressed to the bishops of the United States. In their conversation, de Stas stressed the necessity of setting up a committee of propagation and pointed out several influential persons. The count had lately gone to see Bishop Pierre Francois Xavier de Ram, rector of the Catholic University of Louvain to plan about the American College. De Stas supposes that Count Xavier Archbishop Frederic-Francois-Xavier Ghislain de Merode will arrive from Rome. Since he is probably acquainted with the project his presence at Brussels will be a propos. De Stas thinks Kindekens should hasten his departure for Belgium, perhaps he would come on receipt of this letter. P.S. De Stas encloses the death notice from the "Journal de Bruxelles" not in letter. :: III-2-i A.L.S. French 3pp. 12mo.