England, Bishop John, Charleston, South Carolina, to Bishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1840 September 24

Absence, indisposition, and inability to decide whether he could accept the invitation presented an earlier reply to Blanc's letter of August 11. Poor Father J.F. Chibeaux; England would have tried him not with a convent but a congregation. He died in St. Louis on September 7. England could not go to New Orleans before the end of January; he is pressed with difficulties. Judge Gaston has written that he takes a deep interest in the distress of a family in an adjoining county. Mr. Brown, collector of the U.S. for the part of Ocracoke, North Carolina has a son Thomas Brown, who compelled by rheumatism to abandon his studies sought a milder climate and in Texas a party of Mexicans took him prisoner and now detain him at Matamoras. His parents have procured a letter from General Jackson to Santa Anna. Doctor Matthews interfered with the Mexican charge. Now his Father writes that he has been advised that nothing would have such influence as a letter from some distinguished ecclesiastic to a clergyman of high standing in Matamoras. As Thomas Brown is of his diocese England entreats Blanc to make the application at his request and in his name. :: V-4-k A.L.S. 4pp. 4to.