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Leray has received a letter from a man in Madison County, Alabama , asking him to marry that man in Huntsville, Alabama. The man is a Protestant and is marrying a Catholic, Miss Murphy, who wants to be married by a priest. Leray will go if Blanc does not object and if Blanc will send him the necessary dispensation for this case, since Leray's own powers do not extend beyond the diocese. :: VI-2-b A.L.S. 2pp. 8vo.

Scope and Contents He has been here for 2 weeks, trying to arrange church matters and to organize the congregation. The law suit against the heirs of Father Stephen Montgomery has been arranged satisfactorily. A compromise has been made by which the church is to pay $2500 in 4 years without interest. Besides this the congregation owes $1000 toward a lot and house for the pastor. It is the same lot, adjoining the church, which Montgomery appropriated to himself and for which they have been obliged to pay $2300....

Scope and Contents Since Leray wrote, he has found in Gury's theology that the Council of Trent was published and accepted in Ireland. This makes the case for which he consulted Blanc a plain one; there was evidently the impediment of clandestinity which rendered the marriage invalid and null. Things are going on well here and with little energy on the part of the clergyman who is to take charge, the debts of the church can be paid in less than 15 months and steps taken to complete the church. Leray is to...

Scope and Contents The affairs of this congregation are in a prosperous condition at present. R.A.Bourke of New Orleans with whom Leray has been corresponding in regard to the debt of the church here, has far exceeded their expectations by his liberal donation of $1000 to which he was entitled by the will of Father Stephen Montgomery . This enables them to pay at once $1500 leaving only two notes of 500 each to be paid in 1859 and 1860. The pew rent will bring a permanent income of at least $2000 a year. This...

Scope and Contents In compliance with Blanc's request, Leray writes concerning Father George Cooper . Leray was in hope that as Cooper became better acquainted with their people, he would mend his way; he is becoming more and more unpopular. His rudeness even at the altar, has alienated him. He is blinded by his prejudices which make him hate whatever is not English. Cooper has no more influence for doing good. Leray has not heard him charged with any crime but his anger and foolish tongue have destroyed his...

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Before Archbishop Leray read McMaster's favor this morning, he told Thiards to withdraw his name from the appeal as he had to have the appeal in his own home. The debts compiled by Archbishop Napoleon Perche are also his. He also consulted the Hon. H.P. Semmes and Fernandez, the justice of the State Supreme Court. McMaster's views do not hold good under their civil law. McMaster is not to publish Thiard's appeal. The Archbishop will send his new appeal. :: I-2-e A.L.S. 3pp. 12mo.

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Bishop Leray thanks McMaster for his remembrance of him through the telegram of Sept. 15. The coming day he will begin his travels alone through the primeval woods of Northern Louisiana. This is a fit place in which to meditate, but there is great difficulty incurred in keeping one's self on the muddy roads. :: I-2-c A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents He was greatly disappointed over not finding Perché at Paris. He had counted so much on an interview with him that, until the present, he has deferred drawing up his report on the actual situation of the diocese of New Orleans for Propaganda. He also wanted a frank conversation with Perché about their respective actions. Interested individuals have deceived Perché in regard to his feelings and have led him astray. At the time of the Council of New Orleans in 1866, knowing the plots against...

Scope and Contents In passing through Paris he stopped at d'Aquin's office, but it was closed. He asks d'Aquin to give him in writing what he knows of the financial affairs of the diocese of New Orleans . These details are absolutely necessary so that he can inform Propaganda of the true state of the situation. Archbishop Napoleon Joseph Perché and Jules de Boursetty have kept those in New Orleans in complete ignorance of their transaction in France. He also wishes, confidentially, to know what d'Aquin thinks...

Scope and Contents After a long journey of about 600 miles, Leray returned for All Saint's day and found letters appointing him coadjutor of Archbishop Napoleon Joseph Perché and administrator of the temporal affairs of the Archdiocese of New Orleans . He remains administrator apostolic of the diocese of Natchitoches until a successor be appointed. The Holy Father urges him to repair to New Orleans as soon as possible but the welfare of Natchitoches requires his presence at least until the end of the month. He...

Scope and Contents Duty obliges Leray to touch on a subject which he would have liked to have avoided at any price — his personal relations with Archbishop Napoleon Joseph Perché . Hopeful of being able to meet with Perché in France and have a frank and loyal discussion about their respective acts, he deferred drawing up a memoir. His hopes were not realized. Perché although informed of his arrival, had gone to Switzerland with Jules de Boursetty . The absolute necessity of naming a coadjutor who would at the...

Scope and Contents Enjoying as he does the confidence of Pope Leo XIII and that of Simeoni, he presents to the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide the results of his efforts as coadjutor and administrator apostolic of the temporal affairs of the diocese of New Orleans . As he has already told Simeoni in his letter of Feb. 28, 1880 even before his arrival at New Orleans, the corporation had, by a printed circular spread throughout the diocese without his approval, prepared an unfortunate opposition between...

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Plenel should send by carriage this evening, Leray's seal with ink, etc. :: VI-3-b A.L.S. French 1p. 12mo.

Scope and Contents At the time Leray was named coadjutor to Archbishop Napoleon Joseph Perché and administrator of the temporal affairs of the diocese of New Orleans, the books showed that as of May 31, 1880 there was on hand $1725.46 which had been in the treasury on December 5, 1879 and also $10,927.72 from the jus cathedraticum for the second half of 1879, the Christmas collection of 1879 and the Easter collection of 1880. The total debt of the diocese including the 1875 and 1878 loans, bills payable, the...

Scope and Contents Perché's letter of February 18 was received only during Holy Week. He sent Bishop John Quinlan the coy of Cardinal John Simeoni 's letter and Perché's instructions. Temporal affairs are the same. Liquidation has been demanded in court a month ago. Judge Paul Emile Théard defended the corporation and won a delay because the petition was not made in accordance with the legal formalities. Perché asks Leray to join with him in agreeing to pay all the creditors in a year, but he wonders what good...

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Having been elected a member of the commission to dedide the tax to be paid by each church, Leray notifies him that the members will assemble on the 19th at the Archbishop's residence. On back: Gift of Bogaerts, October, 1897. :: VI-3-c A.L.S. 2pp. 12mo.

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In a circular letter of December 15, 1880, Leray promised to inform them of the financial situation of the diocese and the results of his administration of the temporal affairs. He therefore reports on the diocesan debts which at the beginning of his administration on December 5, 1879 amounted to $537,423.70. It is impossible to give even approximately the amount of the interest in arrears. The annual interest is approximately $33,491.20. :: VI-3-c A. Draft French 2pp. 12mo. Incomplete,

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Yesterday Leray received a command from Judge F.A. Monroe to appear before the court. It was endorsed by Alfred Grima and sent, he supposes, at his suggestion, representing the Orphan Girls' Asylum of the Immaculate Conception. She should answer whether it is so or not. - A.L.S. - Enclosure:

Scope and Contents Upon his arrival at New Orleans on December 5, 1879 he found himself in the midst of a shipwreck. The diocesan corporation was in fact bankrupt; for several months it had been under legal attack; eleven houses belonging to the diocese had been seized and sold; and all the money it had in the bank had been seized but did not even satisfy the first judgment. Since then the judgments against Archbishop Napoleon Joseph Perché have multiplied and everyday he expects the seizure and sale of the...

Scope and Contents 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....

Scope and Contents They were happy to learn of his safe arrival. As his feastday approaches there is not need to assure him of their best wishes. They also send best wishes for the new year. All are well. However Suzanne is coming of age and consequently her health needs support. They have begun the repairs on the factory and have to repair half of the house from top to bottom, but they would rather endure privations than get involved in a law suit. She thinks that Leray knows all the disasters that have...

Scope and Contents She is happy to see the approach of their feast day in order to offer them her best wishes. She begs them to come to see her as soon as possible. She does not wish to remain any longer where she is; she is not mad and they have nothing to fear in helping her to leave. If she is there it is because they wished it; she had warned them that since the return of her brother there would be no possibility for her to be in her Community. She thinks all this has happened because by reason of pain and...

Scope and Contents She does not know how to express her thanks for the news he sent her about himself and Bishop Leray. She hopes he will write from time to time and, for their part, they will try to keep him informed about his father. Sister Marie is trying to find someone at La Fresnaye to take care of their errands there. They sympathize in his loss of the good missionary and friend Father Joseph M. Quèlard. They are also weeping over a loss suffered last evening in the death of their pastor at St. Malo....

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Every day they think of him and they often speak of his visit. She asks him to write and give them some news of him. Father C. Mahé has still not kept his promise to write them. Sister Marie plans to make Leray's feastday a feast of the first class. Since his departure, she has not had any news from their family. The pastor of St. Mala and his assistants have not forgotten him. A.L.S. French 1p. 12mo. :: VI-3-b A.L.S. French 4pp. 12mo.

Scope and Contents She has announced his visit to their Mother Superioress and the latter does not agree that it would detract from their retreat. She thanks him for the good reception he gave them and the good day's journey he procured for them. Her superioress wished to get another for her, permitting her to spend yesterday at Redon in order to see their good Ursulines . She thanked her because, if she had known this before going to Chateaugiron, she would have asked to take Aurelia, whom their Sisters do...

Scope and Contents She has learned through the superioress of their Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul of Griffon that Leray had been able to visit them. They were all very happy, especially the Superioress which is good for Leray's poor Sister Desirée. She announced that he intends to come to Rocher. She begs him to arrange his visit so as to satisfy the Community which is not always free to enjoy several days of rest because they are often busy with retreats. Their pastor would like to have him officiate and...

Scope and Contents She sends a few words before he leaves a family that loves him tenderly. She asks him to send news often and she thanks him for his little visit. She would have liked to have had more time to recommend to him all her spiritual and temporal needs and all those of the community confided to her care. Since the good Lord wishes it, he should go to his dear America which has cost him so many sacrifices. She hopes on his return he will not have to count empty spaces as he had to do on former...

Scope and Contents On January 21 Leris received along with Perché's letter the title of honorary canon. If ever the clergy of France must expatriate he will give him living proof of his strong affection in the midst of his priests. In any case if there is anything he can do for Perché he should not hesitate to ask. He has seen Mrs. J. Laffon de Ladebat who will reply in a few days, but she asked him to express her gratitude. Father Aygrieperse of Misericorde, whom Leris saw to ask about the costume of honorary...

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By a grievous sickness of more than five months their rector Father John DeNeve has been unable to answer his letters. The draft from McFarland has been sent to Noel Estère at Monpellier, who has received it. Since Mr. Berhens was so far under the canonical age, his ordination has been delayed. Creedon and Fagan have been ordained subdeacon last Saturday. :: I-1-c A.L.S. 2pp. 8vo.

Scope and Contents Leroy no longer has relatives or friends who think of him; Blanc baptized him and he turns to him. Leroy was born in New Orleans December 21, 1820; his father, J.B. Leroy, a native of Bordeaux, his mother, Fanny Gardette, a native of Philadelphia. His first years were happy but in adolescence he left home and became a sailor. His father died, his mother remarried. It was Blanc who married her to a Parisian named A. Duchaufour . His stepfather was strict and this made Leroy leave again the...