Foley, Thomas, Bishop of Pergamus, Chicago, Illinois, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1871 November 16

He is sure that Purcell is surprised that he did not reply sooner to his letter. All that he said in his previous letter was litographed there and he was called to answer for it. As to the history for the Sisters of Loretto, he will not put it in writing but will tell it to Purcell when he sees him. The Sister, Miss Burke, has no more claim on him than she has on Purcell. She gave her money to the Sisters and was duped in doing so. Foley required them to return the diocesan property which the ex-administrator had donated to them without authority. This property belongs to St. Patrick's church and has a mortgage of $9,000 to him. He has not desired one cent from the restoration of the property, although it is in the name of the catholic bishop of Chicago. Since receiving Purcell's letter he has been threatened with a law suit by the late Mother of the Sisters of Loretto. If it goes into court, in self defense, Foley will be forced to unearth a great scandal. Foley hopes that Miss Burke will return to Ireland when she gets her money. But his impression is that she will either lend the money again to the late mother who will either carry it off or prosecute the suit against him. Foley will instruct Father P.J. Conway, pastor of St. Patrick's, to remit to Purcell $700 for Miss Burke, which is all the Sisters of Loretto allow. He asks Purcell's pardon for troubling him. Father Conway will send the draft, but Foley asks Purcell not to communicate the contents of the letter to Miss Burke. When he meets Purcell he will tell him mere. He also thanks Purcell for his courtesy to Fathers Terry and O'Neill. The letter is marked confidential. :: II-5-e A.L.S. 4pp. 12mo.