Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-04-20

those who are disposed TO all III qees"'"
the agency OF particular Providence So
lemnly pause.-and let in6delity lie DUMB
Well may these emaciated sufferers. sup
ported even beyond their hopes am'os' Tue
dangers and protracted fury OF the waves
rescued, also, from the monsters OF Inc aeep
that thronged the wreck with unceaslng WI
gilance--well may they exclalm' mot
sparrow talIeth 70 the ground without Inc
notice OF our heavenly Father"
Richmond, April II.
EAST FLORIDA.
Extract of a letter to gentleman 10 'pis
City:from his friend in ST. Augustine, Ga
. ted April S, 1891.
& wrote TO you.a few days before lett
Charleston, and intended 10 have written 10
you again on my arrival at this place-but
/ have postponed it until could either see
or learn more of the country OF Florida
This town has been built a great many
years and bears evident marks of it, as II
is completely in ruins. 1t is the seat OF
government, and consequently the resi-
dence OF the Governor, Mr. Coppinger' VINO
is plain, civil land apparently very friendly
man. He seems to be very anxious to leave
this place and return to Cuba, his native
place, and the residence of his wife and
family, from whom he has been separated
sever | years: but he and most OF The Span
iards here seem very much mortified at the
thorgbts of giving up country which pos
sesses a great deal of fine land, but from
which they receive little or no beneht-ior
there are not a half dozen Of Spanish set
Elements on this side the Cape.
= The town OF ST. Augustine can never
be place of any consequence, either Tor
commerce or as a desposit for the produc'
tions of the coun ry; for there is most dit
6cult and dangerous bar at the mouth OF
the river, which has not more than nine feet
water at high tide, and the bar is SAID 10
SHIFT with the winds-so that it can never
be portof entry for large vessels; and the
poverty OF the surrounding country for ~
miles; is such as to prevent any kind OF pro-
duce being brought here. The lands on
the St Johns are said 10 be very fine; 1t lies
about "a miles TO the northward OF this
place. and runs in semicircular form, be-
ing equi-distant from hence foo many miles.
On this river are some settlements, and II IS
probable that the principal port OF entry on
this side the Cape will be near the mouth
ofllhis river,as it has more v alter than any
other stream. The Mosquito and Indian
rivers. the one SO and the other 80 miles to
the S, nth of this, are said likewise to have
on them very fine lands well adapted to su-
ar, and many persons think to coffee. But
the Incidence OF the Spaniards is such that
they have made no experiment of it. But
the finest part of,he countrylays toithe west
eff this, and is called Alochna it is said to
be as rich as land can possibly be. 1t is,
however, in possession OF the Indians, who
will not willingly give it up. They are
much excited against the Spaniards, Tor
having. Gas they say and very JUSTLY sold
them and their country; so that it is safer
for an American to travel into the interior
of the country than for Spaniard- though
it is by no me lis safe for either without an
Indian guide, nspy Of whom are constantly
coming to THIS place. There are vast
number of large grants for land embracing
a great proportion of the best land IN the
country; but Tue most Of them are forfeited
from non compliance with the conditions CT
the original grant; which generally required
that they should be settled within limited
time. This will open the door for disputes
to all the large grants-As soon as it is safe
to travel in the country; mean to take
tour through il.
II shall remain here until the exchange
of flags takes place. did expect there
would have been great many negroes I'M
ported here before it was given up; but not
one has arrived here except few brought |
from the United States. Money appears TO
be scarce here, as in Virginia. Notwith
standing ruinou, condition Of the houses
here, they ask the most extrsvagsnt prices
for them; and they rent proportionably high.
There are number OF adventures coming |
on here from Charleston and Savannah, but
no men OF capital except one from Charles
ton ~ hn hos nurchas ed house in town and |