Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-07-23

tranquil, and piracy is completely ,,nder N,
, wea'hcr.-eo that it is only necessary occasion
, any 10 shew force ia Havana or Mafanzas
10 heep mem IN order. Although I have mo-
mns Important m naval point Of view to com
municatc, yet you will be gratified to lear,, tha
al 'ne present moment, this is probably the mos
neaithy spot within the tropics. The r;,izcns
2'icers and men stationed here cnioy pcneraIJ,
! excellent health, and there ha, not been c,s5
tol yellow or malignant fever since Septcmbe,
iast. The disease of last year was produced h,
cononation OF causes which will never orcn,
a,aih' Among those may be enumerated, the
want OF houses to protect those on shore f.,,. -
The excessive heat the sun, and heavy r,;r.
tiat prevail at this season of the wear: tho h., :
rasslls and arduous service in which the of,;co,s
aud men were engaged; the want of rood losn;-
tats Tor the reception of the sick, AMI stores f.
| the provisions, which were exposed ON the hc.rI,
until they became mass of corruption of the
most deleterious kind. The officers, who res
pectiveiy have commanded on shore this wear.
nave paid the strictcst attention to the notice
ana cleanliness OF the place; every thine of vc
sctabie or animal matter lying about, is collect
ed anl burnt once week.n
:. Ibis place has the advantage OF n nnsf nv.
cc.ent harbour, ana from its locality i, destined
10 paa place ofim2ortancc, should The govern
"ient extend to that fostering aid which il
VIII ior some years require. Its central posi-
''o " ''i regard 10 New Orleans. Mobile Pom
s'cola and the Havana, gives i a decided a,ivan-
'a5e, over any other part of this Tcrrtory-
ana III event OF 4 war, il ferns with the Havana.
the iAey to the Gulpi, of Mexico. The surface
oil The Island IS nearly AIT, as there is scarcely
any percePtibe difference in the elevation.
The soil SO far as have had an opportunity of
examining it, is a rich vegetable mould about
thrce feet deep, intersrcrscd occasionally with
iiihestone-thcrc are several extensive ponds of
fresh water, which for nine months in the year
proiaco excellent water. There are also sev
cr''l large and some smaller salt water ponds.
&c ~ beacon has been erected ON Sand Eey.
which bears about S. by w. from the Island,
distant about nine miles, AMI serves as a land
mark. In coming from the eastward, vessel
makes three Sand Keys called tl.: Samboes, and
at The same time the beacon will be discovered
10 the Westward maxim. Ike :: sal--yuu run
down the reef until you bring the s. w. poinf
OF the Island to bear n. by w. , This poin,
may be known b. pole viii, red ball on the
top) Then steer for the point, keeping: il !, lit
lie open on tic starboarl bow--crs,ss;nr the
reef yo;i have 81 and 1 fa.hom wa;cr-alicrwards
T. and iathons up to the anchorage white
heads, on the S. w. point the birth of a mile
u a half; a3;: after rounding il ran IN ror the lag
staff. The above arc directions io- making the
Island and entering the harbour which will,
when attended to, carry vessel clear of every
thing. There i; powerful Tide here raising
and falling about t. ) feet, AMI scttn- altcy- !
ratcly \. E.-S. W.