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1475—

Decemr 30th  9

Bvt. Major Genl. O.O. Howard, U.S.A.
Commissioner.

General,

I have the honor to return the accompanying request of Dr. E.H. Smith [[checkmark]] of this city, in behalf of his wife, for an appropriation of Three Thousand (3000) Dollars, to aid in the establishment of a school in Dinwiddie Co. with the following remarks:

The desire on the part of Mrs Smith [[checkmark]] to aid her late slaves and others by giving them the benefits of a useful education, and her willingness to grant the use of a portion of her estate for that purpose, for the period of five years, are worthy of the highest possible commendation.

A careful examination, however of the proposed plan, compels me to withold my approval, for the following reasons: