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Manchester Nov 9 1865

In relation to certain matters affecting the estate of Thomas Howlett decd referred to me for information by Lieut Merrill from the office of Supt BRF & AL under date Richmond October 6 1865 I respectfully state as follows:

Mr Hatcher, in his affidavit, is altogether mistaken if he intended to affirm that as counsel for the legatees of said Howlett, I claimed any right or wish personally to control the proceeds of sale of land made about Jany 1862 to Ro: Alvis:  On the contrary I expressly refused to assume any such responsibility, as the arrangement actually made will tend to show. The bonds referred to, given by the purchaser Robt Alvis to Thomas Hatcher for the deferred payments for the land, were virtually assigned to the Court. The proposition to assign these bonds for the benefit of these legatees was made by Mr Hatcher in consequence of the interference of the legatees to prevent the sale to Alvis [[strikethrough]] unl [[/strikethrough]] unless some satisfaction were afforded them. That interference was withdrawn in consequence of the arrangement made. The bonds could not under the will and the then existing condition of the estate be transferred directly to the legatees: Yet the object of the legatees could not be accomplished except by the withdrawal of those bonds from the control of Mr Hatcher. The difficulty was obviated by a restricted assignment endorsed on each bond in the following words: "I hereby assign the within bond to CC McRae counsel for the negroes emancipated by the will of Thomas Howlett deceased to be collected and dispersed as a Court of competent jurisdiction may

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