Elder, Bishop William Henry, Natchez, Mississippi, to Father Francis Xavier Leray, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 1860 December 7

Leray's letter of the 3rd has been received. He will provide for the Sisters' retreat himself. If they should need lay teachers he has received several applications from suitable ladies. He has been encouraged by learning that some very excellent subjects have applied for admission into the community at Bay St. Louis . If Father F. Pont is successful in collecting, he hopes to give some of the fruits to Vicksburg although Pont will be entitled to a large portion. As this is uncertain Leray must provide other means of meeting Mr. Cobb 's note. In this general stoppage of business Cobb will hardly object to an arrangement especially if he is promised the half which Elder has undertaken to pay. Father Basil Elia carries this letter and will be Leray's assistant for a while. Elia's health has improved but is not completely restored so that he must not let him undertake too much. His assistance should entitle him to board and lodgings and $10 a month from the revenues of the church. As for the perquisites, all that is received by both of them should be divided, one-third to Elia and two-thirds to Leray. Any objections to this can be considered when Elder comes. :: VI-2-c A.L.S. 2pp. 4to.