Boursetty, Jules de, Rome, Italy, to Archbishop Napoleon Joseph Perché, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1878 March 28

Boursetty will be at Rome several days longer. Today he telegraphed to Perché the dispatch from Cardinal Giovanni Simeoni in reply to his request about dispensations for affinity. He has been without direct news of Perché for two months. Father Joseph Marie Millet in seven weeks has sent only one brief letter announcing the arrival of Father Hyacinthe Claude Mignot . 20,000 circulars are ready. It is agreeable to Father Leneuf that they meet with Mignot and adopt a plan from which they will not depart. Everything is changed at the Vatican: men and things. Pope Leo XIII says little. It is said that he is very firm on principles and very conciliatory in regard to men and secondary questions. He does not wish to confuse doctrine with politics and thinks, as Perché often said at St. Eulalie, that one can be a good Catholic without being a royalist of legitimist. Boursetty thinks Mr. Braun is going to come to paint the Pope's protrait for the Paris exposition. Boursetty negotiated the matter and he will have occasion to see Leo a little in intimacy. Boursetty has talked a lot about the diocese of New Orleans and Perché with Monsignor Giovanni Battista Agnozzi . There is agitation from a certain quarter to give him an Irishman or an American for a coadjutor but Boursetty believes that Leo will give him all he requested. Nevertheless, Perché should come and do whatever appears necessary for success. This morning Boursetty paid last respects to one of Perché's old friends, Monsignor d'Arauni, a Maronite. Monsignor Tancredi Bella likewise died on the eve of the death of Pius IX. Finally, Boursetty's old friend, the Baron de Beauluis from Brussels, died a week ago. Boursetty does not speak of the angel of Toulouse, Paule Pujol, whom they can invoke, for her soul must have immediately enjoyed the sight of God. Their friend from St. Eulalie is worried about his nomination. Dignities conferred by a Pope cease with his death, and Leo XIII does not like to give the purple to other than bishops. Boursetty has had some good news from the ladies of Nimal who are worried about Perché. Mr. Barrett has written to them as well as to Boursetty. :: VI-3-a A.L.S. French 7pp. 8vo. 14