s

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for a school. Both the lower farms are delightful; I was so
warmly urged, by both colored and white, to remain, and the place
was SO alluring, I would have gladly staid if my word had not
been given to my flock at Camp Todd.”’

The lower farms constitute an immense plantation, some thou-
sands of acres, which, having been owned by the rebel General
Forrest, will probably be occupied by Government for a long
time. In view of the constant arrival of refugees, it seems that
a field would be opened for us, at these farms, full of need and
full of promise. In the mean time our friends in New York, hav- _
ing become interested in the same locality, have sent a Committee
. to visit it, and we await their report, intending to codperate with
them, if their examination seems to justify it, in the care of one
or all the farms. Margaret Preston remains at the upper farm —
as our agent, to be of service, especially in the care of the sick.
The Women’s Association have sent one box, and friends in New
York another, to relieve the immediate necessities of the people.

_ It has been the design of this Association, when a favorable
opportunity presented, to direct its labors to a single community
of the Freed-people, establish industrial and other schools, and,
if possible, secure them a title to the lands they cultivate, thus.
testing their capacity for self maintenance and improvement.
Whether the opening at St. Mary’s is favorable for this work
‘remains to be ascertained ; if it should prove to be so, the codpe-
ration of our friends in New York, and, perhaps, those in Balti-
more, would give strength and support to the undertaking.

Our labors at Mason’s Island, which have been blessed for the
benefit and improvement of the large and constantly shifting popu-
lation collected there, must also continue unabated; the suffering
condition of the people, arising from insufficient protection from
the weather, calls for active and unremitting labors in their .
behalf; the sick also require care, while by the schools,
maintained on the Island, many are grounded in the elements of
learning during their short sojourn there.

We are not insensible to the touching appeals from the more
distant localities in the South West, and in answer to requests
from William F. Mitchell, at Nashville, Tenn., we have sent some
supplies of clothing to.be distributed under his supervision.

2 .