Elder, William Henry, Bishop of, Natchez, Mississippi, to Archbishop Napoleon Joseph Perché, 1876 May 8

Elder has heard that his name has been proposed for Coadjutor of the Archbishop of San Francisco . He asks Perché's aid in averting this. He does not feel himself capable of the job, and knows there would be a language barrier since he knows only a little French and Italian and has forgotten his Spanish. Because the Province of New Orleans is the least attractive in the country it will be easier to get a bishop for California than for Mississippi. Finally, he is about $10,000 in debt. He has life insurance to pay it after his death, but it would be a monstrous burden for a new bishop. :: VI-2-o A.L.S. 3pp. 12mo.