Page images
PDF
EPUB

is thought very practicable; this country must be vastly important, and the dangerous navigation round Florida Cape not only be avoided, but the country bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, be reduced to a comparatively trifling distance from the northern states.

"The proprietors of this tract are sparing no pains nor expense to bring it into a proper state for the residence and accommodation of settlers; and a regular surveyor is constantly employed in surveying the lands and preparing them for sale.

"Sales to a considerable extent have been made, and many families have already gone, and many more are preparing to go there from the southern states.

"The scite of the town of Colinton, is at Prospect Bluff, on the Apalachicola, and embraces Fort Gadsden. Letters from a respectable source, dated in February, 1821, say, We were there last summer for seven weeks, and were delighted with the soil, climate, and situation, and intend to take up our residence there.' At this place will reside, also, an agent, perhaps one of the proprietors, for the purpose of disposing of the property to settlers, and to give such information as may be required."

SKETCHES

OF

THE FLORIDAS.

THE first difficulty that presents itself, in the early stage of these Sketches, is to fix upon a proper period at which to commence the history of these provinces. I shall, therefore, carry this Narrative as far back as 1492, the year in which the new world was discovered by the enterprising Columbus. This event occurred on Easter day, whence the country was called Pasqua Florida.

The landing of Columbus on the American continent may be clearly traced, on his third voyage, to Florida, as may also that of his speedy successor, Americus Vespucius, in 1497 and 1498. To these adventurers must be added Sebastian Cabot, the son of Giovanni Gabota, or John Cabot, a native of Venice, who was commissioned by Henry the Seventh of England, one year previous to the discovery by Columbus, though he did not sail till some time after. There is considerable difference of opinion respecting the date when John Cabot, or his son Sebastian, performed the voyage; although it is confidently stated that Sebastian sailed from Bristol in

May, 1498, with an object similar to that of Columbus, the discovery of a north-west passage to the East Indies; but it appears that none of them did more than make a landing of observation on the coast.

After having proceeded as far north as the river Santa Martheo, since called St. Johns, Cabot returned to England, for want of provisions.

The first land discovered in these seas was by Columbus, in 1492, when he made St. Salvador, or Cat Island, one of the Bahamas. Of this circumstance these islanders are not a little proud; they have, accordingly, retained the name given to it by Columbus, as the place of his salvation, after a long voyage. From this place his people, on his return from Europe, ventured with him to Florida, being impressed, as were the aborigines of the island, with a belief, that the continent possessed waters calculated to invigorate youth, and to prolong old age. Policy required that this idea should be inculcated; for the sterility of the Bahamas was naturally calculated to dampen enterprise; and something was necessary to incite to farther explorements.

Peter Martyr, highly distinguished for his commentaries on the Bible, and other writings, was a cotemporary of Cabot's, but not more successful.

Ponce de Leon, a Spanish officer, inspired with similar notions, went from St. Domingo, in April, 1512, to Florida, and, like his predecessors, discovered the error into which his infatuation had led him. He took possession of it in the name of the king of Spain.

The flattering reports of these European travellers excited

a disposition in their sovereigns for transatlantic conquests. Thence arose claims, first to discovery, and afterwards to right of possession, until these points were finally settled, by treaty among themselves, to the entire exclusion of the aborigines, whose voice was stifled in the conflicts between the European powers. Their rights have been understood and respected only by the government of the United States, always distinguished for its principles of liberal and enlightened policy toward this unfortunate race.

In 1520, Luke Vasques sailed from St. Domingo for the Florida coast; but his voyages afford nothing remarkable.

De Verrazini, a Florentine, was sent, in 1523, by Francis the First of France; and in 1524, De Geray and De Allegon went from Spain; neither of whom, however, made any progress in discovery or settlement, having only coasted. Paamphile de Narvaes obtained a grant from Charles the Fifth of all the lands from Cape Florida to the river Palmos, in the Gulf of Mexico. He set sail in April, 1528, with a considerable force, (said to be 900 men,) and arrived at Apalache; but did not meet with more success than those that preceded him, being destructively opposed by the Indians. He died on the coast, near the river Palmos, by shipwreck; only ten men returned to Spain to relate the sad catastrophe.

In 1539, Ferdinand de Soto, governor of Cuba, explored the Floridas with from 8 to 900 men, in search of gold; and became so celebrated for his adventures, and the discovery of the river Mississippi, in 1541, as to obtain from the king the title of Marquis of Florida. But such were the barbarities committed under this royal chief, that not only his life

fell a sacrifice to his temerity, but his countrymen were held in such abhorrence as not to be allowed a resting place in the country. He was put to death, in 1542 or 1543, by the Arkansa Indians, after traversing from Tampa Bay, through Apalache, Pensacola, and the Chickasaw country, to the Mississippi.

Prior to this event, (in the year 1534,) the Protestants of France sought an asylum in the Floridas, to escape the persecutions which grew out of the contests between the Catholics and Reformers: and in 1562, James Ribaud was also sent there by Admiral de Coligny. But the hand of persecution followed them, and he returned, leaving Captain Laudonier, with a small garrison, at Fort St. Matheo.

In 1564, Don Pedro Menendez, was ordered by Philip the Second, with a considerable force, consisting of ten ships of the line and 10,000 men, to dislodge them. In doing which, the greatest barbarities were committed upon the French and Indians hanging them without discrimination, and posting on the trees from which these unfortunates were suspended, this inscription, "Not as Frenchmen, but as heretics." For this act of heroism, he was remunerated by a grant of all Florida. But these outrages were soon after met in a retaliatory manner by the French, headed by Dominique de Gourgue, who, joined by the Indians, stormed Fort St. Matheo, and had his opponents hung, not "a la lanterne," but, more conveniently, on the same trees that had sustained the dead bodies of his countrymen, bearing a like sanguinary placard, "Not as Spaniards, but as murderers.' Charles the Ninth received the petition of 900 widows on this melancholy occasion.

[ocr errors]
« ՆախորդըՇարունակել »