Alemany, Joseph S., Archbishop of San Francisco, San Francisco, California, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1875 August 9

Upon the granting of permission to ask for a Coadjutor by the Holy Father, the Bishops of the province met after the return of Bishop Thaddeus Amat from Europe, to propose the following men as recommended for the position. They are: Father William Fortune, of Dublin; Bishop Thomas Foley, of Chicago; and Father John Prendergast, Vicar General of San Francisco. Fortune is a man of great ability, learning, talent, energy, prudence, and amiable disposition. He has been President of All Hallows College for many years and Cardinal Cullen writes that he is fit to become a Bishop. He was appointed to some See in Australia but managed to get off on grounds of poor health. However, he thinks the climate of California would not afford such an excuse. Their priests are from that College and the people are either Irish or of Irish descent. Foley is a good Bishop and would make a better Archbishop. Prendergast is equally intelligent, is well liked and carries out his duties well, although he does not seem to be disposed much towards the position. This lack of inclination towards temporal administration makes him not likely for the job, and his name was opposed by one of the Bishops. He asks Purcell to send his views on the men to the Cardinal Prefect of the Propaganda and to join him in a prayer for an able successor. :: II-5-f A.L.S. 2pp. 8vo.