He is delayed with the historical materials from Edwards. Many of these letters have been in several hands and how little they made of them! Henry de Courcy had some of them; Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley had them for a year; Archbishop John Joseph Hughes had them and would not let Shea see them. Edwards has more material for a history of the Church in this country during the present century than was ever dreamt of. What a picture it is! The real piety in the letters of Bishop John England has been very consoling to Shea. In men like Bishops Benedict Joseph Flaget and Simon Gabriel Brute one looks for it, but in men of action, one scarcely expects tender piety. What would Shea not give to find letters like these of Bishop Hughes. Shea is gaining slowly. The surgeon lets him try to visit New York one day next week. He has had time to think of his sins in the bitterness of his soul. They all hope to see Edwards on history to Europe. :: II-2-o L. Printed but not signed 2pp. folio