314 



FLORIDA. 



2. Towns. Si. Augustine stands on the Atlantic coast ; the town is regularly built, but the 

 streets are very narrow. The houses are built of coquina, a soft stone, formed by a concre- 

 tion of shells. They are generally two stories high, \\\{h thick plastered walls, and have bal- 

 conies and piazzas- Connected with most of them are beautiful gardens. The town is sur- 

 rounded by a ditch, and fortified by bastions, and the castle of St. Mark. The soil, in the 

 neighborhood of St. Augustine, is sandy, yet the country is beautiful, producmg orange, 

 lemon, and date trees. The bar, at the entrance of the harbor, has but 9 feet of water at 

 low tide, but the channel within has from 18 to 20 feet. Population, 2,000. St. Augustine 

 was founded in 1564, and is therefore the oldest town in the United States. 



Fensacola is the chief town in West Florida. It stands at the bottom of a large bay and 

 occupies a gentle acclivity. The soil here is sand)', but the situation is salubrious, and the 

 place is rather thriving. The bay affords a very safe and capacious harbor, and the govern- 

 ment of the United States have made it a naval station. Small vessels only can come up to 

 the town. Population about 3,000. 



Tallahassee is the seat of government, and has been incorporated as a city. The situation is 

 salubrious, and the country around, fertile. The place, however, is yet in its infancy. Popu- 

 lation, 1,500. St. Afark''s^ on the Gulf, with which it is connected by a railroad, is a small 

 seaport in the neighborhood. The village of Quincy, in the same quarter, further inland, is a 

 flourishing place, flppalachicola, at the mouth of the river of the same name, and St. Joseph, 

 are favorably situated for trade. Key JVcst, on an island of the same, also called Thompson's 

 Island, derives its importance from its being the rendezvous of the Florida wreckers, and it is 

 a naval station of the United States. Population, 1,200. 



3. Agriculture. The greater portion of the country is yet in a state of nature. The arti- 

 cles of culture are maize, sweet potatoes, rice, sugar-cane, tobacco, cotton, and indigo. The 

 land in many parts is well fitted for the cultivation of the sugar-cane. The oUve flourishes and 

 bears well. Coffee has partially succeeded. Of fruits, the orange, fig, peach, pomegranate, 

 and lemon flourish. 



4. Indians. The Seminoles, and some other small tribes, are scattered about in the forests 

 and savannas, to the number of about 2,000. They were formerly very numerous, but their 

 numbers have lately been reduced by emigration. They subsist by hunting, and the sale of 

 skins, cattle, venison, beeswax, honey, &c. 



5. Government. Florida is governed by a Legislative Council, chosen by the people, and 

 a Governor appointed by the authority of the United States. The Council meets annually at 

 Tallahassee. The Territory sends one delegate to Congress, who, as in the case of the dele- 

 gates from all the ether Territories, is allowed to sit and debate in the House of Representa- 

 tives, but has not the privilege of voting. 



6. History. Florida has but recently come into the possession of the United States. It 

 was visited and named by the Spaniards in 1513. In 1526 Pamphilo de Narvaez, with 400 

 men from Cuba, penetrated into the country, and were never heard of more. The savages 

 ofTered a bloody and obstinate resistance to the Spanish settlers, but were partially subdued by 

 Ferdinand de Soto, in 1539. The French began settlements on the coast in 1564, but after 

 severe wars with the Spaniards, they abandoned the country. In 1763, Florida was ceded by 

 Spain to Great Britain, in exchange for Havana. Under the British, the colony began rapidly 

 to flourish, but the Spaniards reconquered it in 17S1, and it was confirmed to them at the peace 

 of 1783. In 1821, it was ceded by Spain to the United States, as a compensation for the 

 spoliations committed by that power upon our commerce. Since this period, its prosperity 

 has rapidly advanced. The most remaj'kable event in the recent history of this country is the 

 Seminole war. The savages began to display hostilities to the American settlers shortly 

 after the peace of 1815. In this they were encouraged by two English adventurers by the names 

 of Arbuthnot and Ambrister. The war broke out in 1SI8, and many attacks were made upon 

 the American towns and forts. A strong force was raised under General Jackson, vfho march- 

 ed against the Seminoles, pursued them out of Alabama into Florida, Vv'here he took possession 

 of the Spanish posts of St. Mark's and Pensacola. The Spanish Governor and garrison, who 

 had aided the Indians in the war, fled to the fort of Barrancas, in the neighborhood, where they 

 were besieged and forced to surrender. The Indians were everywhere put to flight, and the 

 war was soon brought to an end. Arbuthnot and Ambrister were tried by a court-martial and 

 executed. The Seminoles never recovered from the effects of this war. 



