Fitzgerald, Edward, Bishop of, Little Rock, Arkansas, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1873 March 6

They scarcely did anything at New Orleans except accepting formally the Baltimore and Vatican decrees protesting against Pruss, etc. It was decided to divide Texas into two diocese and a Vicariate Apostolic and to ask Rome to establish a Vicariate of Prefecture Apostolic in the Indian Territory, now under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Little Rock. As there is no mention of these matters in the papers, he imagines they should not be spoken of until the Holy See has acted. He has not seen "Our Clerical Friends". Their winter was unusually severe, but he spent the cold spell in New Orleans and Mobile where the winter was charming. Little Rock is growing fast, but the Catholic element does not keep pace with the growth of the city. The State is not improving, they are fearfully misgoverned, and are burdened with debt and taxes. He does not look for any immigration or improvement until there is a radical change of rulers. The whole South suffers at the hands of a set of native and carpetbag rascals. He asks to be remembered to Father Edward Purcell and the gentlemen of the Cathedral. :: II-5-f A.L.S. 3pp. 12mo.