Bayley, James Roosevelt, Bishop of, Newark, New Jersey, to Father Robert Seton, Rome, Italy, 1866 February 25

He had written Seton an answer to his letter of last December which got mixed up in his papers and was not sent. They were all very glad to hear of Seton's safe arrival in the Eternal City though not with his determination to go through the whole course of Canon Law. They know very little about the real state of things in this country, of the peculiar character of the Catholic population or the strictly missionary character of the Church. Except in the larger cities all the Catholic population is made up of poor labouring people who bring into play the simplest principles of theology. They have no Cathedral chapters, no benefices, no ecclesiastical courts, no parish priests. What they want now are active, intelligent, pious priests to take care of the immigrants. New York has not over one priest for 6,000 people, and in consequence half of them will be lost to the Church. Bayley trusts that Seton will get the Rector and His Eminence to reconsider the matter and let Seton come to help Bayley at the end of the year. If Seton comes Bayley can take him as his secretary. Bayley has heard nothing of William Seton 4. or any of the family lately. William usually calls when he comes to look after his tenants in "Seton Court." The "Marble Building" at Seton Hall College was destroyed by fire, a loss of $30,000 but they are already rebuilding. It will take the means which Bayley intended for other good works. The bulls for Bishop John Joseph Williams as co-adjutor of Boston came just in time as Bishop John B. Fitzpatrick died one week afterwards. The Jesuits are giving a mission in the Cathedral Church. Father George H. Doane is well and hard at work. He asks to be remembered to Father Bernard Smith . Bayley recently met a Protestant gentleman, Mr. Bradley, who expressed much gratitude for Smith's kind treatment when in Rome. Bayley encloses a draft for 21 pounds. 20 pounds is for Cardinal Altieri towards Cardinal Gaetano Bedini 's monument and 1 for the Breviary Seton bought for Bayley. :: II-1-a A.L.S. 4pp. 12mo.