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interruption on this account. Harris is a man of the worst reputation. He was thought to gain his living chiefly by trading with the negros at North Wales, & his employment now is selling whiskey. He did not wish the plantation broken up, for that would destroy his occupation. This consideration was without doubt the cause of his interference. He has now induced a number of the people from North Wales to settle on his land. It is very poor, nor do I see how they can honestly support themselves there. I wish the Bureau would order inquiries to be made concerning the character of Harris & Allen. The depredations of the negros on the crops at North Wales & Broadneck last year were very great. At least 150 barrels of corn were taken from the field, at the former place & upwards of 200 barrels from the latter. Some time in the fall the North Wales barn was broken open, more than 160 bushels of wheat were stolen, & the building set fire to, but fortunately it went out, without spreading. I saw where the fire had been applied. Genl. Howard must perceive what difficulties we have to encounter, & how much we are in the power of bad neighbours, who deal with the negros. Allen has hired for the year more than twenty hands, from the North Wales & Broadneck estates that belonged there. That he wished to get their services for next to nothing is absurd. They would not work for him unless he paid them fair wages. He contracts to pay good hands $7 a month, with ample rations, which are specified, homes & fuel for themselves & their families, gardens, the privilege of raising hogs, fowls &c. Inferior hands are paid in proportion to the value of their services. The contracts were made with the assent of Lieut. Murphy. They are similar to my contracts. The prices are as high as we can afford to give in the present condition of our lands & I think are higher than are generally paid to agricultural laborers in this part of the country. I can get on these terms as many hands as I want. We are going on admirably well on my plantation & so is

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first word completed to avoid truncation ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-09-18 22:46:08