Devereux, Thomas, Lisbon, Portugal, to The Vicar Apostolic of Mississippi, 1856 April 28

The Marquis de Lavradio ?, conspicuous for his writings in defence of religion, has given Devereux to understand through the correspondence of his friend at Modena that the Vicar Apostolic stands in need of a few missionaries who are acquainted with the Portuguese language and who are capable of ministering to a portion of his vicariate inhabited by Portuguese Christians from the Island of Madiera. Devereux offered to help the Marquis in this purpose; the Marquis offered to write to his friend at Modena. Considering the length of time for this, Devereux has deemed it advisable to write directly. Clergymen are become scarce in this kingdom in consequence of the disturbance of its churches, converts, colleges and their revenues by their new form of government. Priests likely to be moved by a missionary spirit are too far advanced in years to leave their own country. The junior clergy do not have the proper education and are disinclined to leave their friends. The Marquis told Devereux that the Vicar Apostolic visited Rome last year; he may have found some Portuguese missionaries to remedy his need. Devereux is a poor Irish Oratorian educated and professed in the Portuguese Congregation of St. Philip Neri and has been amongst the Portuguese Christians during the last 16 years as a voluntary assistant because their modern code of laws exclude foreigners' promotion to benefices and public offices of government emolument both in church and state. He is now 60 and in good health. He is explicit so that the Vicar Apostolic can form an opinion of his capacity to serve and whether he might be worth the expenses of the voyage. Altar requisites can be obtained in Lisbon on reasonable terms. The only route from Portugal is via Liverpool to New York. A.L.S. :: VI-1-j A.L.S. 5pp. 4to.