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regard to the education of freedmen and some take even an interest in it and encourage them.  If it is consistent with the regulations of the Bureau, I would recommend, the purchase of desks and benches, blackboards and alphabets, for schoolhouses; and a quantity of elementary books, also slates for the use of children, to be paid for if possible.  Sunday schools are well attended and the children present a clean tidy appearance.

The official duties performed by me during the month of December 1866, have consisted principally, in settling the accounts of freedmen with their employers, advising freedmen as to the best manner of making contracts for next year; finding good homes for orphan children and the disposal of all the Official Correspondence, connected with my Office.

The business of settling accounts, presents many difficulties freedmen generally dispute the accounts of the planters, for necessaries furnished them during the year, and I have no other alternatives, but to take the planters oath, as to the correctness of his accounts, or fix the amount due, according to my belief.  I have settled about 25 accounts in this manner during the month of December 1866, and in but 3 or 4 cases have the freedmen received any money, the bills of planters, storekeepers and tradesmen, covering the amount due 2 and 3 times; and this is the reason why I have prohibited any lien upon the freedmans share of the crop,

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