ALS. A very detailed description of the writer's vicariate apostolic and of the state of religion. The writer acknowledges two PF [i.e., Della Somaglia's] letters, the first imposing upon all bp.s and priests to use Latin only in their correspondence with PF, the second [of 5 August 1820 urging them to counter Bible societies [British and Foreign Bible Society, founded 1804] (they are not active in his territory). He gives the geographical coordinates of Newfoundland, the extremes of its temperature (from 95F to -25F), and specifically mentions St. John's, Harbour Grace, Carbonear, Placentia, Burin, St. Mary, Trepassey, Ferryland, Bay Bulls, Port de Grave, Trinity, King's Cove, Bonavista.
There are 80,000 inhabitants in Newfoundland, some seasonal residents on the Labrador coast, only two English families in Anticosti, and very few natives [Beothuks] in the Newfoundland interior who are so "indomiti" and "feroces" that cannot be approached. As for religion, he mentions the vicars apostolic J.[L.] O'Donel (arrived 1784, bp. of Thyatira since 1796), Lambert (appointed 1807), himself (appointed 1816). Whereas before 1784 there were no Catholic missionaries, although some Irish priests ministered to the Irish fishermen, there are currently nine Irish missionaries in the island, on whom he gives his opinion.
In Harbour Grace there are Ewer, OFM (superior, 34 years in mission), [N.] Devereux and Makin, secular priests; in Placentia the secular priests Cleary (17 years in mission, not very zealous) and Herron; in King's Cove Sinnott; in Bay Bulls the Augustinian [T.] Browne (superior, somewhat lazy, not a good administrator), Whitty, FitzGerald (imprudent, little doctrine, next summer [1823] will leave for St. John Island). There were also Cronin, who spent a short time in Bay Bulls, is a drunkard and had to be relieved of his responsibility; and J. Power [d.1823], for 14 years in Newfoundland, whose scandalous life and dispute with the writer are described at length.
Although heretic ministers were sent to the island, religion thrives and the writer enjoys a friendly relationship with the Governor [C. Hamilton]. Catholics are 50,000, they respect their clergy, although many drink, swear, are dissolute, and eat meat on forbidden days. Catholic fishermen found themselves wealthy at the end of last War [of 1812], but are now poor again, except for a few merchants. The writer asks for the renewal of his usual faculties, that are to expire on 23 June [1823], and for marriage dispensations. PF S. Re PF [i.e., Pedicini]'s answer of 1 May [Y(s1SZrecteY(s0SZ March] 1823 [see Lettere 144 146].
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