Fitzgerald, Edward,Bishop of Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1873 December 8

He wrote to Purcell yesterday on behalf of another, and now he writes on his own behalf. He is most unhappy, as there is nothing for him to do and no prospects for the future. He has tried writing and travel to divert his mind, but to no avail. He is never free from fretting and fears at times his mind will give way. He is useless to others and to himself and as a result of not having anything to do he finds in himself a growing dislike to making exertions of any kind. Before, he has been able to shake off the petty annoyances to which all are subjected, but for nearly a year he has been overwhelmed with despondency and gloom. The State is not improving. Of the 14 chapels built since his coming. 10 are without congregations. Little Rock has three priests and not 300 adult members. It is feared that there will be actual want and privation the coming summer because the cotton crop has been too poor for the negroes even to pick. As a result the farmer has no money. Things may change, however, but no present prospects are bright or encouraging. Still, they have reason to be thankful that they are not subjected to what others are, as is poor plague stricken Memphis, for instance. Notwithstanding, he finds it impossible to throw off this depression under which he labors. He asks Purcell to help him with his advice and encouragement and if he knows anything reprehensible in him, asks that he be frank. :: II-5-f A.L.S. 3pp. 12mo.