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Wellville Nottoway Co Va
Oct. 14, 1869
Capt. R.H. Manly
Supt Education &c

Richmond Va

Dear Sir:
Yours of 10th inst was received & contents submitted to a gathering of Freedmen yesterday and all seemed thankful that there existed "a little" sympathy on the part of the Bureau.

It was agreed that a school shall be maintained for twelve months from the completion of the house after which time it is confidently believed that the civil laws of the State will aid in maintaining the school.  We can build a house for $300 (24x16) one that we can make answer our purposes:  I have promised to bear all expense beyond what the Bureau will aid us.  If the Bureau pleases, it can put us under the regulations of the schools, of its entire support coupled with the aids of benevolent societies.

I have obligated myself to teach every night, during the winter, Fall & Spring months & every Sunday that they do not have evening (afternoon) religious services.  In my class will be five, certain, who wish to prepare themselves for teachers: (they are preachers now) can now read & spell some in 1st reader; these men will conduct the day school: that is: one of them most competent, if he can govern the day school (If the school cannot be properly conducted in this way I am obligated to conduct it myself) I have had nearly ten years experience with white students & think I can manage colored.  I do not use a whip, stick or strap I expect that is one reason the colored children are partial to me and wish me to teach them as well as the grown ones.  I have promised to carry on the school not particularly as a choice, in preference to teaching white students, but because the necessity is deemed by me to be so great, they