Hayes seeks pardon for the liberty he took in writing this letter. He is a Presbyterian of long standing, but he was amused and pleased with McMaster's facetious strictures, on the Presbyterian General Assembly held in Philadelphia, as they were reprinted in "The Presbyterian." He believes the Presbyterian Church is ambitious, a fact that is disgusting to him. Some commonly say that the "Know Nothings" would have everything under control if it had not been for the traitor Wise and the South in general. It is his opinion that Protestant clergy are responsible for the present national troubles. He has expressed this opinion to many, and has for this reason, stayed away from his church and attended the Catholic Church. At the latter one can hear the pure Gospel free from politics. The only pulpit effusion, of which he has knowledge, that breathes the spirit of the gospel of the Prince of Peace was that of Bishop John Hughes, which he read in the "New York News." He admires Hughes and states that many Protestants believe him superior to anyone in the polemic field. The actions of the Know Nothing party has made him realize that he must either become a Catholic or else wander into infidelity. He is a native of Virginia, and states that until the closing of the mails he had written to his Southern friends and told them that the only non-partial church was the Catholic Church. When Hayes was asked his advice by Southern Presbyterian Clergy and Elders, with reference to their coming to the General Assembly his answer was negative. His reason for such an answer was that the spirit was the same as that which instigated the burning of the Convent in Charlestown, South Carolina in 183_. He condemns the principles that caused the removal from the City Gas Works and other places, of all men of foreign birth and such natives as had an O or an Mc in their names. This was done by a narrow minded sect of bigots, he thinks, in midwinter. He is opposed to the War, and firmly believes the South will acquire its independence, unite with Mexico not by conquest. He hopes we will then have a country free from isms. He believes his opinion that Protestantism has shipwrecked the country, if the opinion of the thousand or more southern born men in Philadelphia. He has also received letters from the south confirming this merely to give McMaster an idea of the feeling prevalent among Hayes' class of men. Hayes is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, and since the southerners must express their views in whispers, to each other, if his views were made public his situation would become very uncomfortable. He states that he has a letter from a high southern authority, not a Catholic, who is in agreement with the opinion of the folly and madness of the Protestants. After Hayes had written the preceding letter he thought he had better not send it. Before going to dinner he went to bring the "New York News," and he also asked for the "Journal," which they did not have. He went to Peter Cunningham, subscribed for the "Journal," and stayed a minute to read Cunningham's copy. He found in it an article, "Wisdom Calling to Men," expressing the very idea Hayes tried to express in this letter. He knows nothing of the backing McMaster can receive from the Church. He wants McMaster to mention a book which would enlighten him. His porter, Oven Kane, promises to introduce him to Bishop James Frederick Wood, and Hayes may learn from the Bishop what he desires. :: I-1-m A.L.S. 4pp. 8vo.