ALS. A very long letter (his first to PF since his arrival in America [in 1790], with details on the writer's youth and activities in Prince Edward Island and eastern Canada, and suggestions for the future. His youth: his family's departure for Prince Edward Island (1772), the Scots College of Valladolid (from 1777), Scotland (from 1787), departure for Prince Edward Island (1790), dealings with John Macdonald [1727-79], bp. of Tiberiopolis, and Alexander Macdonald, bp. of Polemonium. His activities in Prince Edward Island and eastern Canada: number of Catholics (Irish, English, 600-700 Scottish, 300 French, German, 60 Micmac) in various regions (Pictou, Cape George, Port Hood, Strait of Canso, Merigomish, Antigonish, Manchester [Guysborough], Pomquet, Tracadie, Havre Boucher, Chéticamp, Malgrie [Margaree], Salmon River, Bras d'Or Lake, Sydney, Lingan, Mainadieu, Louisbourg).
The need for new priests: James MacDonald was there from 1772 until his death (April 1785), then short visits by two Irish priests, then two French priests [de Calonne, Pichard] were there for some years [1799-1803] before being called back to Canada; two boys from Prince Edward Island were sent to the Québec Seminary (c. 1812), at the cost of £1,680, but one of the two left in May [1819]. Problems of language (French, English, Celtic, Indian), great cold and sufferings, his own visit to [E.] Burke (in 1814: Halifax, Mainadieu, Louisbourg, Arichat), good relationship with the English government.
Suggestions for the future: the bp. of Québec [Plessis] cannot take care of Hudson Bay, Baie des Chaleurs, Bay of Fundy, where knowledgeable vicars [apostolic] should be appointed instead; Cape Breton [Island], Prince Edward Island and Iles-de-la-Madeleine should be placed under the writer's jurisdiction, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia under another vicar apostolic; the importance of schools and seminaries (Burke's example). The writer was informed of his appointment as suffragan bp. for New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Iles-de-la-Madeleine [see Acta 039-041] in the summer [of 1819] while visiting A. McDonell in [New Glengarry], Upper Canada. He will leave [Halifax] in three days to return home, where he lives in lot 38. Via New York, he is sending to the addressee some maps of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Prince Edward Island, showing churches, Scottish and French settlements, Indian chapels. PF S, notes.
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