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be equal to the demand; several gentlemen have already been obliged to obtain labor through the Agents in that business in Richmond. Preperations are being made by the farmers to break up a great deal of the land that, on account of the war, has not been cultivated for five or six years past, and I have no doubt that double the amount of land will be tilled this year as there was in 1866. They are beginning to realize the true condition of affairs and making efforts to improve it.

There is no improvement in the tone of popular sentiment, their hatred to the government being as ardent as in the palmiest days of the "Confederacy".

Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Serv't.
N.M. Brooks
Capt. Asst. Supt.

Thro.
Gen. S.C. Armstrong
Supt. 5th Dist Va