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Friends 
Freedman Association 
Philadelphia
116 North 4th St

1 M. 18. 1870

R.M. Manly, Supt. Education, Richmond, Va.
Thy favor of 15th inst. is at hand.  I thank thee for the patient explanations & correction of errors.
I knew that it was not in exact conformity with J.W. Alvord's circular to ask for rental indirectly on buildings owned by the Bureau but having drawn rent in this way (by increasing the rate at other schools) for the quarter ending 6M. 30. 1869. supposed it wd be allowed again on a/c. of the peculiar circumstances.  I need not perhaps explain the misconstruction of instructions & dates in Reports which occasioned the minor mistakes but will endeavor to avoid them in future.
As the strict enforcement of the regulation regarding rental on buildings owned or rented by Govt. will bear so heavily upon our Assoc. I have addressed an application to Gen. Howard embodying the following facts:
The application which we wish to make is,
for 13 schools. employing 23 teachers in all 61 months_rental $610 if from this must be deducted
4 schools employing 13 teachers * in all 30 months_ rental 300 
the rental will be reduced nearly one half.. to.....  $310
this statement accompanied by a request that in our case the objectionable clause may be waived or set aside and a reference to thy statement that thou wd gladly join in a petition "to have the 'indirectly' part of the rule suspended.
As the number of schools to be included in the application for Rental will of course depend upon the nature of Gen. Howard's reply, I defer making out a new Rental a/c. till this answer is rec'd.  In the meantime shall have to ask thee for a further supply of Blank Forms of Application, having used those thou furnished for N.C. as well as Va. I have but one left.
If the letter I send to Gen. Howard can be followed by one from thee, seconding the plea, it wd add much weight to it and I hope thou will feel willing to send such an endorsement.
Respectfully, M.E. Shearman, Act.

[[note]] A.H. & M.R. Jones not included [[/note]]

Transcription Notes:
There is a note written across the letter that I wasn't certain how to transcribe, along with a few words and names.