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5

No Register of Marriages has been made. As to be expected nothing has been done for education, one school at Raines' Tavern has (20) twenty scholars, average attendance (12) twelve, and is taught in a miserable outhouse. One at Locust Grove opened April 1st, has (34) Thirty four scholars and is well managed by Miss Morrow who owns the farm and school building and the appropriation of $5 00/100 per month is well deserved. No Sabbath school in this county. There is an Alms House and the county authorities are not unwilling to do what can be done to prevent suffering.

Buckingham County.

This county presents much the same condition of Affairs as Cumberland Co. Many, even whites, are living on meal alone and the prospects for the season very gloomy. As an instance of the scale of employment on the farms, as compared with the ante-war days, on one farm of (600) six hundred acres, near New Store, where formerly (40) forty hands, now (3) three, and on an adjoining farm of (700) seven hundred acres, where formerly (50) fifty, only (4) four are employed. Laborers are leaving the county, but there is still a large surplus over capital to remunerate, and of them many who could do better listen to delusive promises of land, mules &c, and neglect steady industry which offer them the only means of escape. Political antagonism is not so bitter as in Cumberland Co, the delegate sent from Buckingham having become honest enough to inform the freedmen that they need not expect the Government to donate them farms and stock. There are some worthy Magistrates in Buckingham Co. and justice generally administered now with fairness. The county authorities are prepared to receive and support helpless paupers.

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