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on the schools.  At Leonardtown $250,00 has been paid since Nov 23d for the school-house, books and teacher's board and in no place is the debt against the school a large one.

When I informed the people at one place that the Society could not pay the teacher longer, they raised her salary for another month on the spot.  And at another place they will keep the teacher two or three months longer.  We aided in building a school-house near Hunting Creek, Calvert Co. but were not able to send them a teacher, thereupon they obtained one themselves.  Yet they will not generally keep up the Schools without assistance:  they could do it if they would give up all bad habits, but this is too much to expect.  They only imitate the whites by using a great deal of whiskey and tobacco.  One teacher at Leonardtown invited the children to join the Vanguard of Freedom:  one large boy with many others refused, and gave as his reason the he wanted to get an education and be a gentleman, and that all the gentlemen played cards and drank whiskey.

The Catholic priests refused the sacraments to those who join the Vanguard, and have tried to prevent the children from attending day and Sabbath schools in some places.— But in spite of all opposition the schools in most places have been large, and the teachers have done well; and a good work has been commenced.  Mr. [[underlined]] Key [[/underlined]], a prominent lawyer in St. Mary's Co. told me that not a single colored person was in jail, and that generally the negroes were industrious and well behaved.

We tested their honesty while traveling through the county, by leaving overcoats, whips &c in the carriage until late at night, but nothing was stolen.

The whites are nearly all opposed to white teachers.  If they must have colored schools they want them taught by colored teachers.  An exception to this rule was found at a placed called the "Pines," in St. Mary's Co; where a merchant, a native of South Carolina, wanted to teach the school.  He was informed by us that he could have it if he would not sell whiskey; this he would not do, saying he could not give up his business.  We were willing he should sell everything else.  His object no doubt was to teach school and so draw the colored trade to his store.  There is quite a rivalry among the merchants for this trade.

I examined six schools in St. Mary's Co.  The other schools in that county and in Ann Arundel, and Calvert counties, I did not see.  Some I failed to reach before their term closed; others were temporarily closed.

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With Capt. Lawrence, I held nine meetings in St. Marys County; some of them in the evening and others immediately after the examinations.  All were well attended, the people leaving their work for the day educational meeting or coming after a hard days work to the evening meeting often a distance of three or four miles.  I had an opportunity at these meetings to warn them against bad habits, to show them that either the school or the whiskey-shop must be given up.  I had the satisfaction of learning before leaving the County that one man had resolved to give up his whiskey and buy a home.  At the meetings I almost invariably asked all who owned homes to raise their hands.  In many places I found that the school-house and lot was the only real estate investment they had.  This gave me a chance to remind them that they were among the first to obtain their freedom, and that it is time for them to be buying land for themselves.  Good heavily wooded land in these lower Counties is selling for from five to ten dollars per acre in large quantities.  I advised them to combine together and buy, and then divide, or else to find some friend who would buy and sell as they require.  They wished me to ask Genl. Howard if he would not aid them in this way.  I have no doubt but that hundreds of men in these Counties would pay for twenty and thirty acres in a year or two if they could be aided in this way.

Our trip through Ann Arundel and Calvert Counties was not a prosperous one.  We were overtaken by one of the severest storms of the season which prevented our meeting our appointments and caused us to hasten home by Baltimore, not returning through the Counties as we had first intended.  I am informed that at some of the places the people assembled for two or three successive days, hoping that we would come.  The white people do not profess in our presence, hostility to colored schools.  One prominent man told me that if they could be helped this year a little more he thought they would be kept up by the people themselves without trouble.

I found Mr. [[underlined]] Johnson [[/underlined]] at Upper Marlboro, Prince George Co. teaching a large school of about 80 scholars.  The people appear to like him, and for one unaccustomed to teaching he is doing very well.

A very good house has been erected near Forrestville, and an excellent school started.  The teacher, a Northern lady has taught without compensation, and worked for her board.

The schools at Annapolis have been a great success this