Letter from Robert Lynch to his parents from Combree, France, where he is studying for the priesthood. Robert writes at length about a debilitating episode of constipation he has recently recovered from. 4p.
Long letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch keeping him apprised of the news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. Madame Baptiste asks the Bishop to help them procure more lay sisters "small in person - healthy and between 18 and 21" and choir sisters aged "18 to 30". She also discusses plans with the Bishop to open a day school in Columbia but doesn't know if they will be able to secure a building before the start of the school year. 12p.
Louisa Blain writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about Lent and news from Cheraw. Henrietta Lynch adds a postscript about a recurring issue with the slaves the Bishop has asked her husband, Francis, to find a home for. Henrietta writes that they are "city negroes" and would be "unwilling to plow... nor to eat corn bread as they do here." 3p.
Louisa Blain writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about missing her "beloved" Charleston and prays the Bishop will not remain there should the "yankees take it." 2p.
Madame Antonia at Mt. Carmel in Baltimore writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about the death of a local priest and congratulates him on the progress he is making as Bishop. 3p.
Madame Antonia writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch in Rome asking him to contact the general superior of the Order of the Carmelites concerning matters at her convent in Baltimore. 2p.
Madame Antonia writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch in Rome imploring him again to speak to the general superior of her order concerning issues at the Carmelite Convent in Baltimore. She mentions the evacuation of Richmond, General Sherman's stay in their hometown of Cheraw and the Ursulines' move from their burned out convent in Columbia to the Bishop's plantation two miles away. 8p.
Madame Antonia writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch in Rome about an offer the Bishop has had to return to America. She fears that he will "endanger his life" if he returns and prefers that he wait "until after the season of Tedious Times is past." 1p.
Madame Baptiste Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about finances at the Academy and about a smallpox epidemic in Columbia, adding that brother John "has smallpox among his negroes." 2p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news at the Ursuline Convent in Columbia and that she is "glad to hear of our boxes, which we began to fear were gone to the fishes." 2p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news at the Ursuline Convent in Columbia, including the potential recruitment of two lay sisters to help in housekeeping so the convent doesn't "have to pay servant's hire." She also mentions stocking up on stores and that she has ordered two tons of coal, "two thirds anthracite and one third bituminous", from Charleston. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about family news and affairs at the Ursuline Convent. In an earlier letter she had written that the sisters could not fast during Lent and labor too and now asks the Bishop for a decision on the matter. 3p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and congratulates him on the one year anniversary of his consecration. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch asking him to send a Paschal candle and candlestick holder for the Easter season and informs the Bishop of the latest news at the Ursuline Convent. 4p.
