Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-10-18
THE IsTHMUs OF FLORIDA.

iuEs ID hMCS Ot fLORlDA.
1 The following is translation of
manuscriptin French, which was found
on board piratical vessel, captured
by an officer Of the Navy at New Or
leans sixteen years ago. 1t has never
before appeared IN print, and may prove
useful to those engaged in projecting a
Canal across the " Florida Peninsula"
Is it not extraordinary that an inland
passage should exist from the Gulf of
Mexico to the Atlantic through the
Isthmus of Florida, known 10 the pi-
rates sixteen years ago, and tina, it
should not be known TO geographers
even now! Flf
| The Btimus Of Florida.-The 18th.
mus Of Florida is long strip Of land,
connected on the north with the main
land of North America, and lies be-
tween the 3oth and 25th degrees of la
] titude. 1t is more than 100 leagues
long from north to south, and at least
40 leagues broad. On the east side is
the Channel of Bahama; on the south
the Island of Cuba, and On The west the
| Gulf of Mexico.
1t is low and Eat country, intersect.
ed by great number OF rivers, which
form great number Of Islands of diff.
ferent sizes, and bays and lakes in the
interior, which communicate with each
other, and are as yet unknown. There
is, by the means of these. rivers and
lakes, which can be traversed without
the least danger, communication be-
tween the yest and the east coast -
Some ofthose channels OF communica.
ton are worth noticing. The one
through the bay and lake St. Esprit
and the other by the rivers Amazuro
and St. Jean. The communication
through the bay of St. Jean, and the
lake Of the same name, is the easiest
and the shortest. This bay is very
large and beautiful. 1t is about twcn-
ty leagues long from east to west, and
from four Or Ave, and, in certain pla-
ces, six leagues broad. There is eve.
Try where TO be found, from S to and
Z fathoms water, except towards the
Extremity, where the passage commu-
nicates with the'Iake Of st. Esprit, and
where there is no more than two ia
thoms water. The mouth Of this Bay
is covered by an Island one league and
a half in length, which forms two pas,
sages; one to the north, and the other
to the south. The passage on the north
side is in latitude % deg. 80 min. The
mouth of the. Bay is about 3 leagues
wide. There are or the north side Sc
veral small Islands along the coast, af-
ter which you will see hollow or
opening two leagues wide, the depth
of which has DOT been yet ascertained,
and through which communication
Can be had with the Bay Of St. Joseph,
the mouth Of which is IL leagues north
from that of ST. Esprit.
! At the extremity Of the Bay OF st.
Esprit you enter the Lake of the same
name through a branch or canal up
wards Of two leagues in length This
Lake is more than % feet long from
north to south, and from TO leagues
broad. 1t communicates at various
places with the Bahama channel The
principal one, and best known, is at its
southern extremity, three leagues west
oflhe Florida point, in latitude &c deg.
20 min. This entrance lies nearly south
east and northwest two leagues, at.the
end of which you will find two Banks
or Swallows, and six small Islands,
called the Islands of st Esprit; the in-
terror Of this great Lake is very little
known.
The river Amazuro is lS leagues
north from the Bay Of St. Esprit, in lat.
% deg. 25 min. AT its mouth it is
more than three leagues wide, and COM
tinues more Than one league wide for
the distance of more than ten leagues.
In running up, you will find several
branches Of channels across great
number Of islands, forming passages,
by the means of which you can COM
municate with the Atlantic ocean, out
Of the Bahama channel, above Cape
/ Canaveral, across the river Mosquito,
the mouth of which is in latitude 81
degrees Sc minutes, or by the river of
St. Lucie, the mouth of which is in
latitude 81 degrees Sc minutes. The
river Of ST. Lucie communicates with
the bay and lake Of St. Esprit. This
communication is shorter than that by
the river Amazuro; but the principal
passage is that which is supposed to
communicate by canal direct with
the river Of St. Jean, the mouth Of
which on the Atlantic ocean Is IN lati-
tude 30 degrees 20 minutes, about Z
leagues norliI Of ST. Augustine. Such
a passage well known would be Of very
great importance and utility.