McCloskey, William, Bishop of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1869 June 1

McCloskey received Purcell's letter at Lebanon and would prefer to meet Purcell in Cincinnati on the 15th or the 14th rather than the 20th, as he is trying to make a thorough visitation before going to Rome. Purcell forgot to answer his question concerning giving tonsure and minor orders on the same day. The seminary which they speak of in Rome has been gotten up by some ecclesiastics there who began by getting subscriptions in various parts of Italy. They have induced the authorities to send circulars here. If he is not mistaken, one of the young priests connected with it is connected with a publication coming from Propaganda. He thinks Rome wishes the money for the American College to be collected here and funded in Rome and the "Baltimore prelates" are in a quandary. Bishop James F. Wood seemed doubtful if the $1,000 fixed by the Archbishop and bishops as the salary of the Rector of the American College was to be for the whole time or for the year and a half that remained there after 1866. It is absurd to expect him to pay his own expenses year after year. He spent about 600 scudi a year, told Mr. O'Connor to pay the expenses of the bishops he entertained our of his salary, and as he was consecrated in Rome, borrowed 3,000 scudi to get his outfits. He hopes Purcell will write Wood what he meant by his salary and he will write to the archbishops of New York and St. Louis as his note is due July 30. After his expenses are paid, they may do as they please with the rest. :: II-5-d A.L.S. 4pp. 8vo.