13 —

had purchased, with the proceeds of their paid labor. Some were pre-
paring their dinners, but the greater number were sitting listlessly around
the stoves, evidently suffering for want of something to occupy their
thoughts and attention. Upon our asking them whether they would like
to do some kind of work, their faces brightened, and their answers con-
veyed the idea that anything would be better than idleness, even if they
received “no pay,” but they preferred “pay.” The suggestions we thus
gathered from observation and from conversation with them induced us
to believe that an industrial school, in which they could be employed in
making up new, and mending their partly worn, clothing, also receive
instruction in cutting out, making and mending such, would tend to fit
them for future usefulness, whilst the idea of labor went be aesociatag
with their earliest experience of a life of freedom.

“When we introduced this subject to Captain Brown, we found him
ready to co-operate with us in establishing a school of this kind; we of-
fered to supply one or more teachers, whilst he agreed to eemde. us with
a suitable room, and to furnish us with cut out clothing, together with the
trimmings and implements necessary for making it up. We look forward
to include in this branch of duties, cobbling, for the men.

“ Captain Brown also told us that Government was unwilling to make
costly outlays, as the permanency of the camp in this place is doubtful,
on account of the unhealthiness of the island during several months of
the year. |

“Both here and at Camp Wadsworth we had opportunities for con-
versing with separately or addressing publicly nearly every individual in
the respective camps. In this way we became better acquainted with
their true condition than through any hearsay evidence which we have
heretofore been able to obtain; and whilst their trying situation during
this period of transition from slavery to freedom, called forth our deepest
sympathies, we could but feel thankful for their present state of compara-
tive comfort.

“We visited Camp Wadsworth on the 5th instant. Before leaving
home we had learned that there were but few children at either the up-
per or lower camp. ‘The-present policy of the Government is to find
homes for all children of suitable age to bind out. Many parents not
wishing to be parted from their children have left these camps, prefer-
ring the uncertainties of seeking their own livelihood without the aid of
Government to the probability of what may prove a permanent separation ~
from them, This movement has nearly broken up Lydia T. Atkinson’s .
school, and we suggest the transfer of her remaining pupils to the lower
camp, which is under the care of Mary McLain, and her removal to Ma-
son’s Island where our school has been so greatly increased.

‘¢ We regret this change, as the children under her care had advanced
rapidly in their studies, and the adults had greatly improved in house-

keeping.

‘