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TOWNS, RIVERS, LAKES, SOIL, AND
PRODUCTIONS.

The river St. Mary's, which forms at present the northern boundary of East Florida, is navigable for sixty miles by vessels of one hundred and sixty tons.

This fine river, well known by the citizens of the United States, takes its rise in a large swamp, or lake, called Quakaphanake, lying between the Flint and Ochemulgee rivers, and enters by a channel, giving twenty feet at high water, between Cumberland Island, recognised by the handsome seat belonging to the heirs of General Greene, and Amelia Island. It is about a mile in breadth at its mouth; whence it takes a direct course to Point Petre; here it is intersected by Joly and Belle rivers, and assumes, soon after, a southerly bend, extending to within a mile of a well laid-out town of the same name. Afterwards, it takes a serpentine course for several miles, giving rise to a small branch, called Little St. Mary's. It has a current of fine clear water, much admired for its purity and wholesomeness.

The land on each side of this river is of good quality. It is not equal, however, to the tracts farther south for the raising of cotton, rice, and provisions. The pasturage is fine;

and there are some excellent mill seats, which are improved to much advantage by Major Clark and others. Some good crops of black seed cotton have been raised thirty miles up, on fine land, which can be rendered very productive. Forty miles up is the military post of Traders' Hill, or Fort Alert, remarkable for its salubrious situation, and for its having been the barrier to Indian incursions, as well as a check upon the smugglers trading between the American and Spanish territories. This fort was established in 1812, and has been much improved.

The abundance of cane swamp, live oak, and cedar, gives a character to the soil, worthy of attention.

A few miles from Trader's Hill, passes the great road from Fort Barrington to St. Augustine, made in 1765, by the subscription of several public-spirited gentlemen; among whom were Governors Grant and Moultrie, Messrs. Forbes, Fish, Izard, Pinckney, Gerard, Walton, Manigault, Oswald, Huger, Henry, Laurens, Elliot, Murray, and others, names well known throughout America.

South from St. Mary's, is the island of Amelia, more known of late years than any other part of Florida, as well to commercial men as to politicians:-To the former, from the access had to it, during the embargo by the United States, in 1808, and the war of 1812, during which there were generally in port upwards of 150 sail of shipping of all nations and flags, carrying on an immense transit trade, more favourable to those concerned in it than honorable to the governments under whose auspices it was fostered :-And to the latter, from its

contiguity to the United States, and serving as a resort for adventurers of every kind, and for every purpose.

From these circumstances arose the Previous to this it had but a few huts

town of Fernandina.

erected about a mile

Formerly it was re

south from the point on the west side. markable only for some wells dug by the English, for the purpose of supplying their cruizers with water; which, however, they preferred taking from St. Mary's River, when convenient.

The harbour is spacious, and secure against the eastern gales, and may be rendered effectually so against an enemy in time of war. For this purpose, and that of commerce, as well as from its contiguity to the Bahama passages, it is entitled to much consideration.

The town consists of about forty houses, built of wood, in six streets, regularly intersecting each other at right angles, having rows of trees (Pride of India) and a square, with a small fort of eight guns, fronting the water. Several of these houses are two stories high, with galleries, and form a handsome appearance. In the rear, at a distance between the town and sea, is a thick wood of large oak; and s. E. from it is a handsome scite, known as M'Clure's Hill, which, commands the town, and is nearly peninsulated by a marsh. It was in this harbour that the British men of war and large transports rendezvoused for the purpose of evacuating East Florida, in March 1784.

The island is fifteen miles in length, and nearly three in its greatest breadth. It has much good land, well adapted to the culture of cotton.

The planters reside principally on the western skirt of the island, and are doing well, while the inhabitants of the town of Fernandina (about 150 in number) are in a depressed state; many of them depending upon the bounty of the government of the United States for the means of subsistence, and all looking to the cession of the province with hopes of an ameliorated condition. On the score of health it would be soon improved by draining the ponds in the neighbourhood; or by making them accessible to the salt water, and influenced by the tides.

The navigation through the Narrows, for vessels drawing more than four feet, is intricate towards Nassau River, which lies eighteen miles south of St. Mary's. From the confluence of several small rivers it forms itself into one of considerable depth for twenty-five miles westward, promising at some distance from it mouth, much advantage in excellent lands, with an abundance of pine and water, for lumber cutters and rice planters. Some of these, however, are subject to inundations in wet seasons. It is the only river in the province that runs, like St. Mary's, transversely. The bar at Nassau Inlet has eight feet water at low tide, and separates Amelia from Great and Little Talbot Islands, both small, but fertile. Next to these comes the Island of Fort George, named so from a fort being built on it by General Oglethorpe in his attack on Florida. This fine island was once in the possession of John M'Queen, Esq. of Georgia, and afterwards much improved by John Houston M'Intosh, Esq.; and is now in the possesKingsley, Esq. whose property is much increased

sion of

in value.

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