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Madison C.H. Va
May 30th 1869

R.M Manly Esq
Supt Education

Sir
we the under signed Freedmen of Madison CH Va learn that in rerenting Mrs. Gordons room your aim was to help us as much as you could, we therefore beg to inform you that while the school is kept at [[strikethrough]] Mrs [[/strikethrough]] said house we whose names appear below cannot send our children especially our girls to said house [[strikethrough]] To said house [[/strikethrough]]
We are sorry to hear that you received imformation that led you to take such steps. who ever gave you such imformation could not have had our interest at heart Or they would not urge the school to be continued at Mrs. G's. Mr Melody continued his school there contrary to our wishes for some time until he thereby lost a good many of his scholars should you have selected any other place in town but the house in question you would have done more for us than has hitherto have been done for us for it has been contrary to the wishes of the colored people than the school was ever held there but we were advisid by the Bureau Offices to keep it there.