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the former master seeks the expulsion of his slaves but one of the fair execution of an agreement.)

I have just returned from that estate. I found that the negroes have been living during my six weeks absence in Christmas, riotous profusion upon my substance - wasting in that short period enough to subsist my family for six months. There is now here an old negro man who lived there during that time who can testify to these Christmas festivities and I can certify to the fact that not one stroke of work has been done during my entire absence, tho' I had made contracts with some of them for the present year. To ask the question whether it be just to me to keep these riotous negroes, wasting the substance necessary for the subsistence of my own family, in absolute idleness; to ask if it be not necessary and just that I should be relieved from the nuisance, is a question which answers itself? I understood Capt Bohonon to pledge his official faith that they should be removed by Xmas. He is in Fredb'g. He told me he had made enquiries as to my character and that I was pronounced "a fair man" &c

vy respy
A.N. Bernard

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-07-24 18:18:37