WESTERN MISSIONS AND MISSIONARIES: A SERIES OF LETTERS de De Smet, P.J. (Father, of The Society of Jesus) - 1863

New York: James B. Kirker, Late Edward Dunigan and Brother, 1863. First Edition. Leather-bound. Good Plus. 7 5/8 in. x 5 1/4 in. Red leather double bordered by gilt beading and gilt line, with gilt fleurons to all corners of both (beveled) boards. Special presentation copy (and boldly stamped in gilt to front board): "Anthony Carrigan, Esq./Compliments/of The/College of/St. Francis Xavier". Scuffed and worn boards, probably rebacked, with simple black title lable, lettered in gilt. Considerable edgewear. Very solidly bound. All edges gilt. Pages supple and bright. Lacks frontis portrait.

Andrew Carrigan (born 1804) was an Irish Immigrant in New York who amassed a fortune in real estate and the sale of provisions, and after retiring in his 50's, dedicated his life philanthropy and organizing to help new Irish immigrants gain a foothold in America. He co-founded the Emigrant Savings Bank and established the New York Commission of Emigration, the immigrant processing center at Castle Clinton, in 1855 (excerpted from an article by S. Eccles on the Village Preservation blog)..

A series of 46 letters about Father de Smet's missionary activities, progress and general observations of the territories, various Indian tribes, The Mormons, and others. 532 pp. plus 8 pp. advertisements. "These details must have given you an idea of the depths of heathen darkness in which the North American Indians are yet shrouded. How worthy, alas! are they of exciting Christian compassion and devotedness! How noble the mission of rescuing the minds and hearts of this despised and forlorn race from the degrading superstitions and infamous cruelties to which they abandoned..." (pp. 170-71)

"...The government has just organized, in the western desert, two new territories -Kanzas and Nebraska. They embrace an extent of neither more nor less than between five and six hundred thousand square miles. They will then be divided into several States, and each of these States will be larger than France. Whites are already pouring in in thousands, all hastening to take possession of the best sites. The law has just passed; no steps are yet taken to protect the Indians, and already fifty new towns and villages are in progress...I did not then think that the moment of invasion was so near..." (pp. 170-71).