In a day or two Shea will send a memorandum of some papers he would like to examine, as the work on his book progresses. He would like to see the letters of Bishop Dubois and Archbishop Hughes, and any letters of Archbishop F.P. Kenrick and Bishop Reynolds of Charleston. His History cost him his position by giving his enemies a handle to operate against him. He is seriously embarrassed. Of the fifty patrons who subscribed for $50 twenty are dead; three refused to continue. Shea hopes to make the work pay for itself and give him a return. Archbishop Ireland is too busy to help him at the present time. The U.S. Catholic Historical Society in Philadelphia has made him an offer for his Library, but he wants the Library to help the History. In New York he made the offer that if 500 subscribers were secured by a committee of priests and laymen he would put his library at the disposal of the Committee to be kept together. The offer has been accepted by His Grace and some clergymen. Its acceptance would enable his Library to be where he can consult it. He will retain duplicates and several of these are early and rare. These he intends to present to Edwards to help build up his department of American Catholic history. He will have to draw up a catalogue and approximate evaluation of his collection. He requests Edwards to keep the details of his offer a secret. The Catholic University of America might have had his collections, and his services in planning and buying for their theological library on the easiest terms, but they did not consider his offer of sufficient importance. :: II-2-o Copy S. 2pp. 4to.