Alizeri, C.M., Father Joseph, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M., New Orleans, Louisiana, 1864 December 5

Odin's letter of November 16 reached Alizeri day before yesterday. The kept P.? Kelly at the Cape quite a long time because it was very difficult to decide whether he had enough talent for the priesthood. His piety and zeal made it a very delicate question. Some time ago, Alizeri had to replace Father John? MacGill and he did what he could to settle the question; the letter he sent Odin five months ago is proof of that. It is not the priests at the Cape who made Kelly return to Missouri but those of New Orleans. His return to the seminary after being dismissed from the Barrens seems to prove that they wanted to try him for a long time. He has just spoken to Father F. Guedry, C.M. about Patrick Allen, Benjamin Demers and Kelly; Guedry is going to write to explain the difficulty. Allen and Demers will come to New Orleans at the time appointed. However, Alizeri is afraid they may not be advanced enough for philosophy at Bouligny and it is almost always advantageous for a student not to leave his professor for another in the same class. The number of students this year is small because of the war; they would regret their departure. :: VI-2-h A.L.S. French 3pp. 12mo.