Ivers, Father William, Donaldsonville, Louisiana, to Bishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1850 April 11

Having made up his mind a second time to go to Rome, and having lost his trunk and letters, Ivers came down from Alton where he had been lecturing alternately with Father Carroll during Lent, for the purpose of applying to Blanc for a second letter similar to the first which specified that he spent 3 years in Blanc's diocese which he quitted to join a religious order, with Blanc's permission. Ivers went to South Bend and quitted it because he could not reconcile Father Edward F. Sorin, C.S.C. 's transcendent external piety with his acts. Ivers went to the Trappists of Kentucky. He could fulfill every duty except that of manual labor. He therefore quitted it without a line or a cent. He travelled on foot until he met with a Protestant Seminary in Kentucky. He applied for a place and obtained it. In the second month the Principal was dying. Ivers approached his bed and asked Mr. Huit if it ever entered his mind to examine the Catholic religion. Though dying Huit stared like a demon and hollered? for the inmates of the house. Ivers went to the hotel and never saw Huit again. The name of the town is Elizabeth Town where Ivers taught. He then came to Father William? Fennelly, noble priest. Ivers regrets that Father Edward? Purcell calumniated Fennelly in New Orleans because Ivers apprehends that the matter is not over. Ivers then came to Father Carroll, as good a priest as he ever met. There Ivers saw in the newspaper that his cousin, Father Tobias Kirby, 22 years in Rome, was appointed President of the Irish college there when Dr. Cullen was promoted to the episcopacy. While vice president, Kirby sent word by Father Deare that he expected Ivers in Rome. Ivers is now determined to succeed in getting there and in joining a Carmelite discalced society. He has been chaplain in a community of that order for 11 months. The Archbishop told Ivers that his cousin was a second St. Francis Xavier. It would be mortifying for Ivers to prevent himself without a line of recommendation for 11 years of hard labor in this country. Ivers will await Blanc's answer at the seminary. He believes Father Masnou is the superior. At all events it is the seminary where the two Fathers Moinehan Father Cornelius Moynihan and Father Jeremiah Moynihan studied. Kirby is rich and every dollar Blanc gave Ivers, and any assistance from Carroll or Father Corry, will be paid. P.S. Ivers was 3 years with deceased Bishop Benedict Joseph Fenwick who gave him a grand letter which Blanc read. Would Blanc state in writing that it was a good letter. :: V-5-m A.L.S. 3pp. 4to. 11