The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-06-19

deep. In the neighbourhood of ST. An.
tonic, the soil is deep, black, very sticky.
mixed with lime and pebbie-stones
cracks IN dry weather-but little sand
it; produces the finest corn ever saw,
aad the sugar-cane was fully equal in
appearance 10 The best cane on the coast
Of the Mississippi All the land, hosgey-
er, that is in cultivation at st. Antonio.
is irrigated from the river whenever the
cultiyator chooses
" The soil in the neighbourhood of
this place is totally different from that
at st. Antonio. Here it is sandy, and.
in many places, Too much so for cult
walton; II is also very black, not sticky.
works very easy, never cracks, has no
pobble-stones mixed in it. is from 3 10 6
feet deep; below which.is stratum OF
sandy clay then limestone rock and
sand limestone.
"This place is 90. miles southeast of
81. Antonio, and on the same river, and
40 miles from The sea-coast; il is in a
state OF .dilapidation, owing TO the
shock it received in the former revolu-
ton, and the subsequent Indian depre-
dations. The site is most beautiful. on
a handsome elevation, on the bank of
the river, a saaall stream of pure clear
limestone water, with grveiiy rocky
bottom, and very rapid current. The
town and all the adjacent land may be
watered from the river by taking ont
the water 8 or 10 miles above, and lead
ing it down in canals.
s'To give you an idea of this coun-
try, You must imagine an immense in
ciined plane, extending from the Bras
Sos TO Rio Grande, and from the noun
tains which these rivers head in, to the
Sea, gradually descending from the foot
OF the mountains TO the ocean, general
iy Tree o. timber, except on the water
courses, covered with the most beanti-
tul verdnra YOU Can Imagine
mug an nnduiatipr waving surface, with
here and there in distant perspective a
knoll, which. rising above the plane,
might be called hill.
'''The course Of the rivers and creeks
is distinctly marked by the timber that
lines their banks, presenting lists of
deep dark green, which winding through
the country, and conTasted with paier
int of natures carpet affords hap
Ply relief 10 the eye, as it wanlers over
the bonadiess prospect
8 cannot give You more correct
idea as to the general appearance OF
tiie country, than bringing 10 your
mind some Of the most beautiful. pros
pects which you have beheld in truyel-
ling through what are called the bar
rsas, or prairie lands in the scaih part
Of Kentucky.
!" The soil, after crossing the Brassos,
is generally deep, black, and of first
quality
''Ihe only objections to the country
are those already sted-sca:city
Of tIl5er back from the water-courses-
and running waters are rather scarce
but IN limestone country, good wells
can always be had
The climate is most Delightful. /
never, IN nv life, spent a summer in
which | suffered less with the heat
We have every day fine cool breeze
from the sea, which is felt as far q am
TOLD as to the foot of the mountains
moth of ST. Antonio.
In short, my dear sir, sanguine as
was my calculations as to the country
(for travellers and writer's had all unit
ed IN its praise,) they have been more
than realized.
am very respectfully, &c.
"STEPHEN F. AUSTIN.
j. III HAMRINs Esn A.. q .Lann.,,