Elder, Bishop William Henry, Natchez, Mississippi, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1858 September 26

Elder has learned through the papers of Blanc's accident; he had already been grieving over the loss of so many of Blanc's priests. Elder is just now about to start for Baltimore. There is little fever here. Last week in Vicksburg, Father Jeremiah O'Connor had it badly. Yesterday Father Leray wrote that O'Connor was getting well and that the fever was chiefly at the hospital. Elder's brother, Thomas Elder has written that he will leave New Orleans tomorrow and Elder hopes to meet him in Jackson and travel in his company. As the Council of Trent forbids that Elder be absent more than 3 months in one year without permission, he asks Blanc for that permission. He has already been absent from April 21 till June 12. His reasons for the journey are to collect what means he can for finishing his Cathedral and paying his debts. :: VI-1-o A.L.S. 2pp. 4to.