Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1819-05-11

1
of Hillsborough, which will admit any
vessel over the bar, not drawing over
twenty-four feet water. The principal
part of the soil in the peninsula abounds
10 pines, called the yellow pitch pine tree,
which is excellent timber for shipping ::
the peach and mulberry orchards thrive
in this soil very veil: j, is likewise abun-
dant 10 grass. 10 the vicinity Of the soil
$50 productive Of the pine, there is to be
found soil of another quality it abounds
IN maple oak Of seven different species,
all of which grow in great abundance !;
walnuts, chesnuts, mulberry and maple !:
it is likewise favorable TO the cultivation
oil the indigo plant figs and oranges are
likewise found 10 this soil but the latter
fruit is not of the first quality. Nor are
the savannahs of Florida destitute of in
terest, although in the wet seasons they
are almost impossible, yet they are pro-
ductive of grass Of which the cattle are
extremely fond; in this soil dwarf oaks
and jumpers are numerous. The river
swamps (by which we are not to under
stand marshes, but low grounds subject to
inundation) abound in corn, rice, indigo,
| in great abundance-of timber; the ma.
/ pie, hickory, oak Of various kinds, birch,
beech, willow, the sumac, the myrtle and
the locust, thrive 10 these low grounds.
There is another species Of soil of light
and spongy texture, intermixed with vege-
table fibres, which trembles to consid-
cradle extent on the approach of man or
beast, and in which the latter are somc-
times swallowed up and irrecoverabIy
lost. Here is found very fine clay fit
for manufacturing, biiuminous earth, coal,
fossil, mari, iron, lead, chalk, crystal, and
white topaz. The Floridas abound in es-
culent plants; wheat, rye. barley, maize,
buckwheat, and rice, cotton, tobacco.
peaches, pears, and apples; pitch, tur-
pentine, hemp, and articles of naval stores
abound in this country, and perhaps the
finest ship timber 10 the world. The lakes,
bays and rivers, present excellent fisheries,
10 all which places, several kinds of the
most valuable fish are found in abundance.
Such is very rude and imperfect out
line of the soil and natural productions Of
a country that is shortly TO become a part
OF the American confederacy. But why
do we speak Of what the Floridas now are /;
of morasses hereafter to be drained, Of
ibarren lands, OF wildernesses soon to be
RECLAIMED by the hand Of cultivation
Wherever slavery abounds all the muuiii.
cence of nature runs TO waste. Ia the
midst of such prodigality, man Iepines
and looks with an eye of cold and gloomy
indifference on all the blessings by which
he is surrounded: but wherever freedom
takes her course over barren sands, the
most impenetrable morasses, or in the
deepest recesses of the wildesness--the
earth itself yields her bcmage-the " des-
ert blossoms as the rose"-the morass is
converted into fruitful garden, and the
wilderness into smiling villages. Who
but lately thought Of New. Orleans, at that
time little Insignificant spot, scarcely
honoured with dot upon the map of A
merica, Now we behold this giant Of
commerce stretching forth his mighty
hand and claiming for his own all the
wealth that is borne to the ocean by the
waters of the Mississippi.-Balt. Chron.