In a letter marked Private and Confidential, Mallet informs McMaster that he is sending the draft of an application as he promised. He is sending it in draft and substance. He wants McMaster's views on it after McMaster has carefully examined it. He is going into the thing with misgivings, for he knows not one influential person who can push the case along or secure him an audience with the president, and without these the case will simply be pigeonholed, as was his application for the secretaryship of New Mexico, which he encloses for McMaster's perusal. He thinks that after the papers are prepared, the proper thing is to secure endorsements from persons having influence with the President and Cabinet officers. Some may simply write recommendations on the application itself, while others may give letters or testimonials to file with it. The character of these endorsements will probably decide the fate of the case. Someone, other than Mallet, must secure an approved reference from the President to Secretary of the Interior Lamar. Then someone must watch the case until the appointment is made. Mallet does not know what influential men in New York might help him. Perhaps John Kelly and Senator Kernan would. In Washington, if Representative Collins and Senator Kenna of West Virginia could be reached by some one of influence they would be good to act. Mallet is not a politician, he is poor, he has no rich relatives. Men in such a condition get nothing from the Government. If it were not for McMaster's kindness he would not act at all. Yet, having acted, he shall do his duty. He can get an abundance of French Canadian support. If McMaster thinks this would help him, Mallet suggests that McMaster confer with Abbe' Fred Tetreau, of the Canadian Church. Mallet's position is becoming intolerable, and soon his self respect must cause him to abandon it. The letters he is sending McMaster, which are confidential and which he wants returned to him indicate the condition of affairs. If McMaster, after examining the whole matter, thinks it had better be abandoned, Mallet wants him to say so frankly. But he thinks that the place is obtainable if the proper persons can be found to second their efforts. There are now no Catholic Inspectors. Almost any of the bishops could secure one for the asking at a personal interview with the President. But he presumes none of them would ask. :: I-2-f A.L.S. 3pp. 8vo.