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Dear Sir:

Referring to your letter on July 14th, I am instructed to reply that this Bureau has no authority
[[strikethrough]] to employ a lawyer [[/strikethrough]] to attend to such cases.

You are advised to place your case into the hands of some responsible lawyer. If you desire your letter will be [[?]] to Charles N. Thomas, Esq, a promising young colored lawyer of this city, residing at 460 Louisiana Avenue, [[strikethrough]] will [[/strikethrough]] who will correspond with some one in Rockingham Co. Virginia, [[strikethrough]] and [[/strikethrough]] ascertain the facts and prospects in your case, and advise [[strikethrough]] you if [[/strikethrough]] whether anything can be done

Very respectfully, 
21 
AAA General

[[stamp]] THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES [[/stamp]]