Kenrick, Archbishop Francis Patrick, Baltimore, Maryland, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1852 July 22

Kenrick has just returned from Frederick where he witnessed the death of Bishop John Joseph Chanche of Natches. He expired this morning at 7 after an illness of 12 or 13 days. Kenrick presumes Blanc already knows from a letter from Father Alexius J. Elder that Chanche has commended his diocese to Blanc's charge, and left Blanc his property. Kenrick does not know the details of his last will. Blanc will no doubt communicate with the Holy See and propose three names for a successor. Bishop Michael O'Connor of Pittsburg sailed Saturday for Liverpool on his way to Rome, where Bishop James Oliver Van de Velde of Chicago has probably arrived. It was suggested in the Council that in case of the latter insisting on a translation, he would be a fit bishop for Natches. Kenrick merely recalls this without desiring to influence Blanc's choice. :: VI-1-d A.L.S. 3pp. 16mo.