Viewing page 13 of 134

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

Office Gen'l Supt Fr Sch's
Little Rock. Apr 17" 1866.

Rev. J.M. Walden.
Sec'y West. Dep't Am Fr. A.C.
Chicago Ill.,

Dear Sir:
Assuming that any authentic information concerning the Schools in charge of the teachers of your commission will be welcome at your office. I have the honor to State, briefly, Some of the results of a recent tour of inspection to Pine Bluff and vicinity.

Miss Tenney is teaching a plantation School Some ten miles above Pine Bluff, which I did not visit.

Miss McClave teaches a School of fair Size in a large board building without windows, but otherwise comfortable enough for Summer, on the late "Home Farm," now the Mallory and Cockrill plantation.

Though I observed and frankly pointed out to her what I regarded as Slight deflections from correct management, the School is in all essential matters well taught and well managed. Capt. Mallory furnishes a home for the teacher in his pleasant northern family and also guarantees the payment of tuition.

I met [[underlined]] Mr. Byers [[/underlined]] at Pine Bluff for the first time. There is material here for a good graded School or for two or three Separate Schools; and well-informed men -

residents there - inform me that Such School or Schools can easily be made Self-Supporting. To this end it would be necessary to place the Schools [[strikethrough]] under [[/strikethrough]] in charge of other parties than those now there. I Say this frankly and with no feelings of unkindness toward anyone. I want the Schools to prosper - want the freed people permanently refined, Elevated, Christianized.

I am not informed of the plans of your Commission but will take the liberty to Say there is a large field for missionary labor at Ft. Smith. If your Commission will Entertain the idea of occupying it I will obtain and report to you, Should you desire it, more Explicit information, only remarking here that you can rely upon finding work there for one gentleman and one or two ladies who are brave, noble and good.

The Situation at Little Rock is nearly the same as when Mr. Allen was here.

I have the impression - but how it comes I can not Say - that the Commissions north are discouraging plantation Schools. If this be the policy of your Com. may I ask the privilege of presenting Some reasons for Establishing them wherever practicable.

Wishing you the largest Success.

I remain.
Yours very truly,
Wm M Colby
Sup't Fr. Schs for Ark.