The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-05-22
LETTER FROM PETERSBURG.
Correspondents of the Richmond Dispatch
PETERSBURG, May l9, II

The Freedmen's Court was adjourned
here more than week before the order
for their general suspension in the State
was received. The fact is, the business
coming within its jurisdiction had SO mucl
decreased that for several weeks tho court
held only semi-wcekly sessions, with very
few cases towards the last. The explana
tion may be found in the increasing kindl.
relations between the two classes, and the
consequent removal of causes for ltlSa
ton. The abuses existing in other places
It is gratifying to know, had no existence
here, where the best feeling has prevailed
between the citizens and the Frecdmcn''
Bureau.
1t is understood that as soon as the new
Neglected Mayor, Mr.. Collier, shall have
entered on the duties of his Office, all cases
civil as well as criminal, will be referred to
his court. This l have from the best al-
thority.
What the remaining duties Of the Freed
mems Bureau may be cannot accuratei!
define farther than the exercise ola gene
raj supervision over the interests OF the
wards"-such as taking care of the help
less and infirm of both sexes, old and young,
enforcing contracts, promoting industrious
habits, and keeping up the schools.
The schools will continue in operation,
il is said, until the middle of July, when
there will be three months vacation. L
have not ascertaincd the number OF fc-
male teachers in the city, but ii is quite
considerable. As an old Virginian, cdu-
Gated in profound respect for the gcntler
sex. have regretted to see the frequent
ridicule cast on these unprotected females
in the public papers. Doubtless among
the great number that have como to the
south, some of them have been indiScreet,
and even offensive in their department
Our own education and prcjudices are so
extremely different that it is difficult for
us to appreciate the force of the circum-
stances which induced them to enter on
their mission. OF course no southern
lady would, or could, engage as an in
structresS in these novel institutions !;
but the lines between the races
are not so strictly drawn at the north, and
these young women come here without any
consciousness of degradation. Many OF
them are well and even highly educated,
and are actuated bya strict sense ofduty III
their calling. As long, therefore, as they
deport themselves with womanly propriety,
let us iorbcar to hold them up to the rldl-
cule Of the multitude. They have trials
enough without that. learn that there
are thousands at the north ready to I'LL up
any vacancies or new openings that may
occur.
The breaks of tobacco at the warehouses
during the week have been unusually
large, and the market well sustained; but
the receipts have fallen off in notable
degree.
After period of great depression, the
cotton market has rallied during the week.
At the opening, the prices ranged from q
cents for ordinary up to 80 and 3l1a for
strict middling, and 80 for choice middling.
At later date an advance Of one cent
was realized on all grades, and now, at the
close of the week, under favorable advices
from New York, 80 has been offered for
choice grades, and refused. 1t is impossi-
BILE to state the amount of cotton on hand
but it is very large. A member of lead
ing firm informed me few days ago that
his house had enough in store to pay, in
commissions, all their expenses from now
to the incoming of the next crop.
SSownrS