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Aug. 6  9

Mrs. J.S. Lowell

In undertaking to find a place in Virginia, not already occupied, where "from twelve to twenty young people old enough, cultivated enough, and with sufficient character to become teachers after one or two years training" [a good description of the material you want] can be found for a Normal School, you have undertaken a hard task.  The following places have their so called Normal Schools viz.  Winchester, Alexandria, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Lynchburg, Danville, Farmville, Portsmouth, Hampton.  The only places that remain, of any size, without schools nominally Normal are Petersburg and Norfolk.  Petersburg, you know, is supplied with schools by the city, though they will take no pains to educate colored teachers.  Norfolk has its advanced school under the A.M.A. with Excellent school-rooms.  Whether the best material could be got away from them - if desirable I know not know.  I say, sub rosa, that the A.M.A is not doing its duty by Norfolk, but sinking everything in the glories of its Hampton.  I should