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Besides the estate on which I reside, I have two others, one in Hanover called Broad Neck, & another in Caroline, called North Wales. On the first there are over 700 negros, on the other about 140.  Everything I have said of the plantation on which I reside is applicable to them - the same loss from the armies in provisions, horses mules &c. the same failure in the crops, & the same necessity for the purchase of corn & at the same price since the 1st March. These estates were devised to me by the late Mr Wm Carter of North Wales, to prevent their confiscation by the Confederate government. His two sons, Wm Carter, who went to Maryland early in the war, and Charles, who has resided in Philadelphia many years, & has not been in Virginia since some time previous to the war, are the true owners of the property. It was because they were at the North, that their father apprehended his estates might be taken possession of by the Confederate authorities. I believe they have as yet come to no conclusion what to do with their lands. They will probably not wish to remove to Virginia, but I cannot continue my agency much longer. They will, I suppose desire to lease out or sell their property.  It is likely many of the negros may find employment on the land, whoever may cultivate it; but the greater part will have to be removed, that the owners may get possession of the plantations. I ask the action of the Bureau on the same points as I have done in my own case.

This is the period of the year when it is usual to make engagements for the next year. It is customary for overseers to be now employed, & we ought to firm our plans for the next crops. I therefore wish an early response to my application.

There are some of the negros, as I have said, who ought to be sent from my plantation for misconduct, who are a bad example to the others, & whose remaining on my plantation against my known wishes, will detract from my authority & from the respect in which I ought to be held. The pernicious effect of their remaining here, to say nothing of my right to the uncontrolled possession of my property, is obvious.

Until a fixed policy is adopted, a number of women & children cannot be removed, without much suffering. They may continue to occupy their present residence on my plantation, at all events till the Spring. The government, I suppose, will furnish them with food, as it is not to be expected that I should
   

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