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in Norfolk four young men who I believe guilty of the crime: their principal defence was vituperation of the Friends and foul mouthed slanders of the white teachers The ringleader did not deny his guilt but seemed to be proud of being accused of such a crime; and from the fact that up to this hour, a day and a half since the arrest, not a friend or relative has called to enquire in regard to the accused, I believe their crime was known to most of the disloyal crew in the neighborhood who although they would not commit the crime themselves, feel a secret satisfaction when 'tis done, and since the arrest feel afraid of the result even to themselves  The mother of one of the accused seemed to feel more sorrow that her son should be subjected to arrest by Yankees, than that he was accused of burning a Friends church and negro school house 'Tis a bad neighborhood.
My schools are in an encouraging condition  A new house is already erected on the ruins of the burned one; and the school will again go on from April 2d  The Suffolk School is attended by an hundred different pupils  The average is diminished by fear of small pox