The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-06-23
TALLAHASSEE-IN FLORIDA.

~ n
We have received the first mum Der
of new paper, printed in Florida.
at Tallahassee, the scat of Govern
ment, by the title of the q" Florida
hteRigencer." The following ac-
count of the "young capital.' will
be interesting to most of our read
ers, some of whom have scarcely
heard the name of it.-.gat. Intel.
IdiiahaSsee.-This young capital
of Florida is already attracting the
attention of capitalists. Many bull
dings are erecting. and others are
in state of preparation, even be-
fore the sale Of the lots, which will
take place on the fourth day of April
next 1t is situated ON an beautiful
and commanding eminence, about
l8 miles north of St. Mark, in the
bosom of a fertile aud picturesque
country. The south side of the town
is watered by innumcrable springs
of pure water, and clear pleasant
stream passes by the east and south
sides. at the distance Of a few yards,
aud after pa111Hg the town, as ifs"n-
sible the pd n its usefulness was
past, falls ofcF the rock which beds
the stream, forming pleasant cas-
cade. and passing off by subterra-
ncous passage.
The country around Tallahassee,
and extending from the Suwannec To
near the Apalachicala river, has de
servedly attracted the attention. oil
travellers, and those who have visit
ed it with view ofpermanent settle
mcnt. The fertile lands between the
aforementioned rivers extend from
east to west from eighty to n hundred,
miles, from north to south about Is
miles. This tract of country, much
of which is adapted to the culture of
sugar, is finely watered by the trib-
utary streams Of the Suwannee, the
st. Marks, Wakulla, OkeloCkoney,
Little river, and several other SIN all
cr rivers and streams, and is beaoti-
fully studded with lakes and pondS IT
the purest water. The land is roll
ing, with here and there an eminence
that rises considerably above the
country, which will al
ford delightful seats for the opulent
man Of leisure.
This country, Notwithstanding its
beauty and fertility becomes
more interesting from the lndubita-
bic evidence of its having been once
dcnsely populated BY a civilized race
of men. Almost every eminence is
capped with ancient civilizations,
which appear regular, and some OF
them substantially formed. At fort
st. Lewis, about two miles west Of
Tallahassee, having been found rem
nants of iron cannon, spikes, hinges.
locks, &c. which arc evidently al
Spanish manufacture, d which have
not been much injured by the rust
Within the principal fort, for the
outworks seem to have been numcr-
Gus and extensive, are the ruins Of
two brick ediiiCes one was about
sixty feet by forty. the other about
thirty by twenty. These arc in to.
tai ruins, and nothing but mound
appears where the walls stood, com
posed wholly of brokenbricks, which
had been composed of coarse Sandy
clay, and burned in the modern ia
shion. Yet on the very. walls Of
these buildings, are oaks eighteen
inches in diameter. On the same
hill and in fact within'the outwoI-ks
of this fort, arc to.be seen grape ar
bors and parallel lines, which still re-
main in their pristine regularity.
Bricks seem to have been in gene
raj use, for they have been discover
ed in several places by digging a lit
tie below the surface of the earth.
Within the town Of Tallahassee some
were dug up. having a substance adj
herring to them resembling lime mof
tor. But on the hill, about hall a
mile south least of the Capital, are 20
be seen the greatest proof OF dense
population. On this hill are to be
seen streets or roads, running near
ly at right angles, at such distances
as demonstrate the former existence
of a pretty large town. The shade
trees of the former inhabitants still
remain, and are generally Of live
oak, and near which may be discoN-
cred grape arbors gilmore or less re-
gularity. In several instances we
discovered species oftheplum tree.
There has been much speculation