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unfortunate in some of their spiritual advisers, who exercise a great, but in many cases, injurious influence.

The population of Hampton is largely under the influence of a colored Rev. Mr. Taylor, who is opposed to emigration, and tells his people that when the Bureau doesn't ration them, the "Lord will provide."  A few such men are greatly damaging the interests of their people.

Oystermen constitute a large class of freedmen in this county and it is the opinion of nearly all who are cognizant of their condition, that they furnish a large number of vagabonds to this community; theirs is a precarious, but profitable business, yielding from three to ten dollars per day, in good weather, and nothing at all when it is rough, the large profits of today are freely spent; tomorrow's dinner being predicated upon tomorrows catch, but, it is rough, and the foolish man starves; this is an epitome of these oystermen's life, easy come, easy go, is the story of his money.  When the season is over, and the harvest of oysters gathered, the fishermen are about as poor as when the season opened, and have nothing to do but fish a little, which does not subsist them