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"468"

Bureau Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands,
Head Quarters 1. Div 1st Sub-District, Va.
Norfolk, Va., Nov 30th 1868

Bvt Brig Genl O Brown
Asst Com BRF and AL Dist of Va
Richmond, Va,
General.-

I have the honor to report pursuant to Cir No 6 series 1866 from Hd Qrs Asst Comr Dist of Va that the Condition of Bureau affairs in this Division is quite good. The abundant crops have in the Country portions of the Division rendered the issue of Rations unnecessary while the Cities the Civil Authorities with the assistance of the Bureau have thus far been able to relieve the distress amongst the poor who are always to be found there in large numbers. Should the Bureau cease its functions on the 1st of Jany next, it is feared that there will be much suffering amongst this class of Paupers. There is a strong disposition manifested among the colored people here to aid each other through the medium of Charitable Associations, but this aid from their very limited means is necessarily small and is generally extended to the members only and thus fails to reach the most cases of destitution. The Schools are very generally reopened