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[420] in trust for three normal collegiate institutions or universities, embracing the education of refugees and freedmen; the institutions to be incorporated: one located in the District of Columbia, one in the State of Virginia, and the third in the State of North Carolina. The order also authorized the investment of the money, so transferred, in land “with a view of relieving the immediate necessities of a class of poor colored people in the District of Columbia, by rental, by sale, or in such other way as the trustees might judge best for that purpose; provided that all proceeds, over and above the necessary expenses, should be transferred annually to the three institutions implied in the order.” The proceeds were to be divided equally between them.

I had great difficulty at that time to find anybody willing to sell, and was obliged, finally, to purchase without being known in the matter, and particularly without having the object of the purchase revealed. The Barry Farm, 375 acres, situated near the “Government hospital for the insane,” was thus obtained. When about two years later I was obliged to turn over the funds to a successor, Mr. John A. Cole, treasurer of the “Barry Farm fund,” 266 families had already been provided for. Some of those who bought one acre or two-acre lots were fairly well off. I found it better to have a few among the purchasers who were reasonably educated, and of well-known good character and repute, to lead in the school and church work, and so I encouraged such to settle alongside the more destitute. The land all the time was constantly inquired for by working freedmen. It was taken with avidity, and the monthly payments, with very few exceptions, were promptly and regularly made. The prospect to these freedmen of owning a homestead was a great stimulus

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