Leray, Francis Xavier, Coadjutor to the Archbishop of, New Orleans, Louisiana, to Cardinal John Simeoni, Rome, Italy, 1880 After May 7

He begins with a copy of Bishop Richard Gilmour 's notuta for Father Nicholas Gallagher . In a letter which Bishop William Henry Elder wrote him on April 29, Elder, in speaking of Gallagher for Natchez, said that everyone recommended him very strongly. He was second on the list proposed for that diocese and several would have preferred him first. In another letter of May 7, Elder reported that Bishop Caspar Henry Borgess had written that no one could question Gallagher's goodness and zeal. However, he was only an honorary candidate on the list sent for Columbus, proposed to eliminate another whom several thought was unworthy. In the conference that took place at New Orleans among the bishops of the pŕovince in order to choose candidates for Natchez and the other dioceses, Gallagher had been proposed by two bishops who knew him personally, Bishop John Quinlan and Bishop Edward Fitzgerald, Bishop Dominic Manucy was also for him. Without knowing him personally, Leray believes he is the man for administrator of Galveston . American by birth and speaking a little German, he would easily become popular. If he has only half the good qualities attributed to him, he would soon place an end to the discords. Simeoni perhaps might be embarrassed because of Bishop Claude Marie Dubuis, but the latter has already had a coadjutor named Bishop Peter, Dufal, C.S.C. , and the choice was unfortunate. Dubuis has no complaint if the administrator is capable of ending the difficulties. :: VI-3-b A.L.S. Copy French 4pp. folio 13