The Seminole Indians, until of late, were the sole occupants of the Everglades, a flat, marshy, lake-like district, in the central and southern part of Florida. As early as 1821, the national government were urged to remove the Creeks, who had fled into this territory and incorporated themselves with the Seminoles. Difficulties continuing with the Indians, a treaty was made in 1832, at Payne's Landing, in which a large number agreed to remove west of the Mississippi. A part of the Seminoles, considering the treaty as unfair, refused to remove. In 1835, Gen. Thompson having a dispute with Osceola, a favorite chief of the Indians, caused him to be arrested and put in irons. The Indian chieftain, exasperated by this indignity put upon him, determined to have revenge.

On Dec. 28, 1835, Maj. Dade, with 117 men, fell into an ambuscade of the Indians, and were all killed but three men; one or two of them afterward died of their wounds. The same day Gen. Thompson, the government agent, who resided at Camp King, was seated, with a company at dinner, in a store house, when Osceola, at the head of his warriors, suddenly broke in upon them; and discharging a volley of nearly 100 guns, killed Gen. Thompson and four others.

After a variety of conflicts, Osceola, in Oct. 1837, with about 70 warriors, under the protection of a flag, came into the camp of Gen. Jessup, who caused him to be forcibly detained. He was taken to St. Augustine, thence to Fort Moultrie, at Charleston, where he died in Jan. 1838. This harassing warfare, at this period, was brought to a close by Col. Worth, in 1842, after millions had been expended, and hundreds of valuable lives had been sacrificed. In 1846, the greater part of the Seminoles were removed west of the Mississippi. Great numbers of the soldiers perished by disease, contracted by traversing through swamps, morasses, and stagnant lakes, in pursuing the Indians from place to place. A remnant of this tribe still remain in the interminable swamps and forests in Florida.

Florida is bounded N. by Georgia and Alabama, E. by the Atlantic Ocean; S. by the Gulf of Mexico; W. by the same, and by a small portion of Alabama. This state, which forms a peninsula, is situated between 25° and 31° N. Lat., and between 80° and 87° 44′ W. Long. It is about 385 miles long from north to south, and about 250 miles wide, including an area of about 59,268 square miles, or nearly 38,000,000 of acres, of which, in 1850, only some 350,000 were improved. St. John's is the principal river in this state. This beautiful stream rises in an immense marsh, slightly elevated above the ocean, and runs to the north, nearly parallel to the coast, until it turns to the east, and flows into the Atlantic. It passes through several lakes in its course, and afterward receives the Ocklawaha, a large tributary. Its entire length is about 250 miles, expanding, in many places, from three to five miles in width, though in other places it is not more than a quarter of a mile. Vessels drawing eight feet of water can enter Lake George 150 miles in the interior. The principal river in the western part of the state is the Appalachicola.

The surface of Florida is generally level, probably in no part elevated more than 250 or 300 feet above the sea. The southern part of the state is covered with a large sheet of water, called the Everglades, of an immense extent filled with islands. "The lands of Florida," says De Bow, "are very curiously distributed, and may be designated as high hummock, low hummock, swamp, savanna, and the different qualities of pine land. High Hummock is usually timbered with live and other oaks, magnolia, laurel, etc., and is considered the best of land for general purposes. Low hummock, timbered with live and water oaks, is subject to overflow, but when drained, is pre

The Indians of Florida are said to be the remnants of, or runaways from, other tribes, principally Creeks, Red Sticks, and Micasukies. The word "Seminole," is said to signify a "runaway," or "wanderer:" it is, therefore, a name indicating their origin.

ferred for sugar. Savannas, on the margin of streams, and in detached bodies, are usually rich alluvions, yielding largely in dry, but needing ditching and dyking in ordinary seasons. Marsh savannas, on the borders of streams, are very valuable when reclaimed for rice or sugar cane."

Much

of the territory is covered with pine timber. The "pine barrens," so called, appear to be scarcely worth cultivating. The open condition of the forests admits the luxuriant growth of innumerable varieties of herbage and flowers, many of which are, of the most beautiful description, flourishing all seasons of the year.

Population in 1830, was 34,730; in 1840, 54,477; and in 1850, 87,445, of whom 39,410 were slaves. Only about half of the inhabitants are natives of the state. Population, in 1860, 145,694; slaves, 63,809.

Eastern View of the Plaza, St. Augustine.

ST. AUGUSTINE is said to be, by forty years, the oldest town in the limits of the United States east of the Mississippi. It is situated 160 miles S. of Savannah, and 200 east of Tallahassee. Population, about 2,000. The city stands back two miles from the Atlantic, on a peninsula, and is shielded from the force of the main ocean by Anastatia Island, which lies before it, but is so low and narrow as not to intercept the sea-breezes. The site of St. Augustine is itself low, being not over twelve feet above the level of the ocean. The soil consists of shell and sand, with an intermixture of vegetable mold. The city is about a mile long and about half a mile in width, fronting east on Matanza Sound, which forms the harbor. Not more than one-half the city is compactly built, and much of this has an antiquated appearance.

The engraving annexed shows a view of the public square, as seen from the end of the long wharf, which extends into the harbor. The Catholic church, or cathedral, a large but plain and substantial building, having a small spire, is seen on the right. It is an interesting structure, from the fact of its being the place of worship for the oldest Christian congregation

east of the Mississippi. Before the church is a monument, some sixteen or eighteen feet high, erected in memory of the new constitution of the Spanish government. On each front is inscribed, PLAZA DE LA CONSTITU

TION.

The United States court-house is seen in the distance, between the monument and the Catholic church, the lower part of which was formerly occupied as a postoffice. On the left appear the two market-houses and the spire of the Episcopal church. The square is open to the east, being bounded by a sea-wall formed of the native coquina rock, capped with granite stone. This is more than a mile in extent, in front of the town, and was erected by the United States, at a heavy expense. The United States customhouse is the small one story building seen on the right, in front of the Catholic church. The court-house was formerly the residence of H. White, who was of Irish birth, and one of the last Spanish governors of St. Augustine. On the 8th of September, 1565, at noon-day, on the celebration of the festival in honor of the Virgin Mary, Pedro Melandez, a creature employed by the Spaniards to break up a Huguenot settlement near the mouth of St. John's River, entered the harbor of St. Augustine, landed and took possession of the country, proclaiming Philip II king of North America. He had the service of mass performed, and the foundations of a town immediately laid, which he named St. Augustine.* This place was so named from the circumstance of Melandez having come in sight of the coast of Florida on a day consecrated to the memory of St. Augustine, a venerable and pious father in the church during the early period of Christianity. Melandez, for twelve years, presided over the destinies of the town, directing his attention mainly to the conversion of the Indians to the Catholic faith. In this object he was aided by the Franciscan monks, who had a monastery which occupied the present site of the United States barracks.

In 1586, Admiral Drake, of the royal navy of England, under Queen Elizabeth, attacked the Spaniards at this place, who made but little opposition. The town was taken, plundered and burnt. Drake then sailed for England, where he arrived in July. About twenty-five years afterward St. Augustine was assaulted by a numerous band of the native Indians, and laid in ashes. In 1665, Davis, the bucannier, having discovered this Spanish retreat, with his armed band of freebooters invested, captured and plundered the town.

In 1702, Governor Moore, of South Carolina, with a large force, embarked on an expedition for the reduction of St. Augustine, which was considered

*Melandez, after having established the town, sailed northward to the mouth of the St. John's, where the Huguenots, or French protestants, under the patronage of Admiral Cologni, had, on the 30th of June, 1564, made a settlement and erected Fort Caroline. On the appearance of the Spanish fleet, the colonists sent a deputation to learn the name and objects of the Spanish commander, to which he answered, "I am Melandez, of Spain, sent with orders from my king to gibbet and behead all the protestants in this region. Frenchmen who are catholics I will spare-every heretic shall die!" Some time afterward, Melandez, having collected a force at St. Augustine, marched through the wilderness and fell upon the French colonists by surprise; 86 persons were killed. Their bodies were hung on the limbs of the next tree, and Melandez erected a monument at this spot, on which he engraved, in extenuation of his crime, "Not as Frenchmen, but as heretics." The Spaniards having formed a settlement on the spot from whence they had driven the Huguenots, were assailed by De Gourgas, a catholic and Frenchman. This distinguished person had retired from public life, but, hearing of the atrocities committed upon his countrymen by the Spaniards, he fitted out an expedition at his own risk. He sailed from France, fell upon the Spaniards at the mouth of St. John's. Hardly one escaped. Their bodies he also hung upon the trees. Underneath he put the inscription, " Not as Spaniards but as murderers!"

the center of predatory operations against the English settlers. Twenty years after this expedition, Colonel Palmer, with a body of Georgia militia and friendly Indians, marched into Florida to retaliate the injuries received from the Spaniards and the Yamasee Indians, their allies. Although unable to reduce the city, the power of the Yamasee tribe was here broken, they being nearly all killed or made prisoners under the walls of the place. The next invasion was made by General Oglethorpe, of Georgia, in 1740. This also proved unsuccessful.

Southern View of Fort Marion, St. Augustine.

The above is a view of Fort Marion, as seen from the end of the wharf which extends into the harbor. This fortress was built by the Spaniards, from the neighboring coquina quarries, according to the most approved principles of military science. It walls are twenty-one feet high, terminating in four bastioned angles. Each of the several corners is surmounted by a tower, or look-out. A deep ditch surrounds the walls, over which is thrown a drawbridge, originally protected by a draw. This castle, which is situated within some twenty or thirty rods from the houses at the northern extremity of the town, commands the entrance of the harbor, and has now a water-battery, furnished with a complement of Paixhan guns, of a heavy caliber.

On approaching the main entrance, through the principal gateway, the first object of interest is a Spanish inscription, cut in stone overhead, surmounted by the arms of Spain. It is as follows, viz:

Reynando en Espana et son Don Fernando Sexto y Sierdo Governador y Capitan General di esta Plaza de San Augustine de Florida y su Provincia el Moriscal de campo Du. Alonzo Fernandez de Herida se conduyo este Castello el ano de 1756 dirigendo las abras et Capitan ynginero Don Pedro de Brazas y Garay.

Don Ferdinand the Sixth, being King of Spain, and the Field Marshal, Don Alonzo Fernandos de Herida, being Governor and Captain General of the place, St. Augustine of Florida and its province, this fortress was finished in the year 1756. The works were directed by the Capt. Engineer, Don Pedro de Brazas y Garay.

Within the massive walls of this fortress are numerous dark, dungeon-like cells. Within the bastion of the north-east angle, far under ground, is a dark recess, the walls of which are constructed of solid masonry. After the fort came into the hands of the Americans this dungeon was opened, when a human skeleton, with the fragments of a pair of boots, and a mug for water were discovered.

On the eastern side of the fort, in one of the angles, a great number of

bullet-holes are to be seen. This, undoubtedly, was the place where condemned persons were shot. Within the fort one of the cells appears to have been fitted up as a kind of church or chapel, over the door of which is the Spanish coat of arms. On each side are the remains of fonts, which probably contained the holy water for the use of the unfortunate prisoners, who here, it is presumed, received the last rites of religion before they were led out to be executed.

Before St. Augustine came into the possession of the United States it was a regular fortified town, in many respects similar to fortified places in EuThe gateway, with a section of wall, represented in the engraving, is situated at the northern extremity of the town, the gate of which was closed at night-fall. The great road of the country, called the "king's road," passed through this gate, which was guarded by sentinels. On the pillars inside this wall there is a recess in which a person can stand, and, through a small opening, observe whatever is approaching the town from the north. The Protestant cemetery is but a few rods from this point, a few palings of the inclosure of which are seen on the right of the engraving. This interesting relic of antiquity owes its preservation to Thomas Douglas, Esq., who

recently died at the house of his son-in-law, A. M. Reed, Esq., of Jacksonville. Soon after the place came into the possession of the Americans, this gateway being considered as an incumbrance, it was resolved to destroy it. and it was proceeded with so far as to take down one of the pillars. Judge Douglas, then United States attorney at St. Augustine, interfered on the ground of its being a part of the fortifications of St. Augustine, which were to be preserved. He compelled the authorities to put up the pillar as they had found it, and thus, by urging this point, this interesting relic of the past was preserved.

Previous to the great frost in February, 1835, St. Augustine contained within its bounds one immense orange orchard, and appeared, says an eyewitness, "like a rustic village, with its white houses peeping from among the clustered boughs and golden fruit of the favorite tree, beneath whose shade the invalid cooled his fevered limbs and imbibed health from the fragrant air." The frost of 1835 cut down, in one night, this entire growth of