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             Lewisville, March 15, 1867.

Br. Colby - On Sunday afternoon, 10th Mar at the close of the service in the Methodist church, I spoke to the Freedmen, and asked them to report at the office of the Bureau, which they did on Monday evening. [[crossed out]] [[?]] [[/crossed out]] 17 subscribed $57.
    On Tuesday morning I went by invitation of Mr. Reed, former Supt. of the Bureau here, to visit his place on Red river, 20 miles from Lewisville. It was very stormy and I did not see the freedmen to speak with them. They have very much desired to have a teacher, and Mr. Reed wishes them to have one. There are about 100 hands. Mr. Reed will consult with them about supporting a teacher, building a school house and a house for the teacher.
   
    I conversed with other planters and found none but what are well disposed to have freedmen educated. From Cut Off Landing, on Red river, to Mr. Reed's place, 12 miles, there are some 300 freedman, I think, and all the plantations are not occupied. 

    I returned on Wednesday, through a storm of hail, sleet, rain and snow, and at Cut Off Landing met Maj. Burton, who desired me to visit Chickaninny Plantation and remain overnight. I saw only the four headmen of the gangs in the evening, to whom I explained the interest of our Association in establishing schools, and desired them to confer with the rest. Thursday morning I spoke to some 12 men who were at work together  and they told me that all were in favor of a school. They agreed to settle the matter after consulting with Maj. Burton, but wished me to remain with them then and there, and they would go right to work and put up a school house this week. May our efforts, by the blessing of the Lord, hasten the time when they shall have a Christian teacher. One of them said "we's ignorant we knows we's be, and we want somebody to learn us something."

   On my return to Lewisville I find $98 subscribed to the school fund. I have offered to take the school at $80 per month and board myself. [[strikethrough]] I consulted with Mr. Colby on the [[/strikethrough]] I do not wish to establish too high or too low a precedent for any who may come, but have told the freedmen $50 would be the salary, and board furnished by the planter.

   My trip down the river has confirmed my conviction, with that of Maj. Cole's, the Bureau agent, that a school should be first opened here at Lewisville, the county east of Lafayette county. Public of opinion varies in regard to the education of the