The Vicariate, 1841-1847
IOI
sympathetic but actually offered to help, if Etienne approved the plan. Durando was willing to furnish personnel for the proposed estab- lishment. Odin offered to use the brick and rock of the old Mission of the Alamo for the construction of the college. Local labor, he said, was cheap, but good, so that at little expense a fine buiding could be erected. Another long-contemplated desire of the good Vicar was the conver- sion of the Indians of Texas. This project he, likewise, discussed with Durando. San Antonio was the logical center from which to reach the numerous tribes. Durando was willing to help if Etienne recommended the enterprise. "Won't you, my most honored father, write a brief note to Mr. Durando," Odin pleaded with Etienne, "explaining that you will be pleased to see the Province of Piedmont dedicate itself in a special manner to the Texas Mission ?" 77 Before leaving France for Ireland in August, Odin learned that there would be no Vincentian academy in San Antonio. From Turin Odin went to Genoa, Lucca, Pisa, and Florence. Here he had an audience with the great Duchess ;\faria and the Arch- duchess Louisa, and on September 2, he had an interview with the Grand Duke of Tuscany. Everywhere he went, he eloquently described the dire needs of his poor mission. His sincerity and his graphic de- scription of conditions in Texas impressed his listeners and he obtained donations and gifts from nobles, ordinary laymen and clerics. 71 On September 9 he arrived in Rome. A few days later he wrote, "I have had the happiness of seeing the Holy Father twice ... With what benevolence he pressed me to his heart, with what tender charity he embraced me!" Equally gracious had been Cardinals Fransoni and Brunelli, and others whom he met. Odin lost no time in presenting to the Sacred College a memorial on the status of the Texas mission. The Holy See had no intention of erecting Texas into a diocese until its troubles were over, he informed Etienne, adding that the matter would be left for recommendation to the Council of Baltimore. Evi- dently the question of raising the Vicariate to a diocese had received consideration even before Odin reached Rome. 79 On September 27 the Pope granted him a third interview and on October 2 he finally left Rome to go to Vienna. Before Odin left 77 0din to Etienne, August 4, I 845, C. A. T. 78 0din, Diar'Y, entries August-September, 1845; Odin to Timon, August 2, 1845, C. A. T. 79 0din to Etienne, September 23, 1845, C. A. T.
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