_Jan. 25._ I went down to this nigger-house yesterday morning, called
the people up and told them what they were going to get on their
cotton besides the pay for picking already paid, and then, after
talking over plantation matters a little, got their acres for next
year. They seemed "well satisfy" with the additional payment, fully
appreciated the pay according to crop and according to acre combined,
and started on this year's work with "good encourage." I suppose Mr.
Forbes and you are two bricks, serving as the beginning of a good
foundation for these people's prosperity.