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desire to live best near the rivers and coves, so then can oyster, fish and cultivate a small patch of land and be to themselves.

They make complaints to me that the White men are leagued together in certain districts against them cultivating their lands unless the negro comes down to their terms. This is a fact along the Rappahannock river below Farnham Church.

There is a universal dislike among the land owners towards the Bureau. They will have nothing to do with it unless they want a favor from it.

They to a man go before magistrates, to have their contracts signed when hiring a negro for a longer period than one month. The negroes come and tell me that their employers tell them to let the Bureau “go to Hell” and other like expressions.

The negro has in order to get a home comply with their requests.

Last year many would not go into contracts on account of they having to come with the negro before me. These same persons go into contract this year because they can go before Magistrates, to have their matters attended to.

Very Respectfully
Your obedient Serv't,
Henry K.W. Ayres,
Lieut. V.R.C. & Ass't Supt &c 6th Dist Va.

Transcription Notes:
Unsure of first word on second line, before “fish”. {it is "oyster"} At end of page, unsure of word after “obedient”. Unsure of whole name in following line, “H- K.W. A-“. Unsure of most of next line indicating rank and post, after “U.R.C.”, and words after “Supt”. ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-03-09 15:55:56