2

Sav. Jan 18, 1864

My Dear Bishop

Most heartily do I wish
you through this New Year all the
blessings which belong to the Child-
ren of God. May you & yours be
watched over & protected in every
way during its Course

It promises to be a very event-
ful one - my own opinion is that
the war has culminated & that
we have seen the worst of it- there
are signs which, in my opinion, in-
dicate a gradual dying out of
bloodshed & slaughter. Here I will
state to you.

In a first place, the Roman
Catholic Church has set its face