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to send some releable person throught to view the negroes & you will find that my report is orfeshal (official) & that, all our once prosperoses fields are now deserted for the Sickly Sellers of our Towns, and insteat of the negroes working for a livelihood they are all going to School & their prospect is plunder & Government rahsions (rations).  But as I have not anticipated (participated) in the war, therefor I hope you will not suffer me to starve but pitty my situation & give me an order on the Government to pay for the horses, or send me an order to get them [[strikethrough]] horses [[/strikethrough]]   Presedent it is a great mortification to me, to beg, but I had better beg, then to suffer, & I would be very greatful to you if you would send me a little money to get me a few comforts. Mr Johnson I cannot close, without asking you to make some amendment, with the negroes for it is imposible for us to live together, unless discipline is used & also, to ask you to petition to Congress to have the widows [[strikethrough]] compensed [[/strikethrough]] compensated for their emancipated negroes, to keep them from starvation. I will now close by subcrebing (subscribing) myself

Very Rispectfully
Elizabeth W. Hockaday
Wmsburg, James City County
Va

P.S.  As I have loss my cows & am unable to get one, unless you will be good enough to make up a Cubscribtion to enable me to buy a cow president you will think that I have taken a great liberty in maken such a request but I hope that you will forbear with me & remmeber my sad condition & also, the words of the Lord, that as much, as you give unto the poor, you give unto him. 

Please let me hear from you soon 

Yrs &c
E. W. H. -.