The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-03-06

Florida, 10 Col WHITE, Delegate lh Congress
from th1t Ierrd0rg
WAsuIsGroS, Jan. II, 1927.
SIR In compliance slth your request, |
will now proceed 10 give brief Typographical
and historical sketch OF the curous aud inter
es,ing part OF our Territory, in which our CAPT
tai, Tallahassee, is situated. The twenty town
ships exposed TO sale last May tw.lyc-monih
contain a very large proportion Of excellent
land which has been nearly all purchased, with
A'view OF settlement In appearance, II is en-
sircy unlike ANY part of the United States, SO
near the sea-board. Instead of being pla.a of
UNMARRIED surface II resembles the high lands n
hoye the falls of the rivers in the Atlantic States
snd is beautifully diversified 10y h and dale
and rendered picturesque by the number Of
lakes, whose pure waters reflect the forests OF
oak, which frequently cloihe the sides ofthe hills,
down to their very margins. These lakes re
coi,e number Of streams, which flow from
the higher grounds, and lose themselves in their
placid bosnns. The largest of them are called
The ln0nia. Jackson, and MicaSuki, each Of
when Is from thirty 10 forty niles IN clrcumtsr-
cnce bnt there are many others OF a smaller
size, afordmg many beautiful situations for
country residences, whore the natural open
groves Of oak. hickory. beach, aud magnolia
granddora, surpas> in nlgnfccncc the proud
est parks the English nobility. The soil of
The upland bears a strong resemblance 10 the
best part Of Prince Georges county, Maryland ,
and the face Of the country is moi unlike the
South side OF the Potomac, opposite Washing
ton CITY In the valleys. there IS much hca-
Nier growth OF timber, aud frequently deep
eanebrakes There are, also, frequently to be
MT with, grassy ponds, surrounded by glades.
win h afford excellent pasture. The strawberry,
MI
where. and the numerous flowers which EN-.
balm the air. during greaf part Of the year.
may. perhaps, have occaSoned the name OF
IL ida To he given for will presently show
Thai, ate VI SiCp. TINS was the first part OF the
AM. IA continent winch became the scene of
Spanish adVe4'u, The only rrgret which |
feel IN contemplating this beautiful region is il
very lmited sNeit--an Oasis, which appearS tn
have be'u formed b, nature. in one OF ber most
spoft'vs and fantastic humorS The general
sub 'tratun, pc h'ps few feet above the Level of
the sea, is 4 snit limestone. of rcrrnt formation
In the Pne wool plain which stretches towards
ihe highlands At Tallahassee, the stone is often
tonneln misses on the surface
About sixteen miles from the mort of {,
Motks, we begin TO ascend, and enter the coun-
ny all 'ady described; the ridge forming. in
sn|'t measure, a barrier TO the pu>sage Of the
WIN w the "a On The contrary, the streams In
general rising near the submits ofthc hills. dow
.do"a'ard, IN I'll they reach the general he'd -,
the lane stont where they either sink into tho
assures OF the rock or spread out in lakes
which have their subferranran passages: bnt
they again rise ON the South side of,he r;,,,a
and form some OF the largest springs in The
world The Wakullen comes forth at once n
noble river, two hundred Yards in width lis
source not lSss than one hundred feet in dep,h
anu 80 transparent, thai person standing by
fhe side n 1t, feels asthough he were on the edgc
Of precpee The lakes of Tallahassee abound
"a hSh ; the Trout, Dream, Perch. and soft.
shel'd ruriie; aud in Winter. with wild fowl
he soil, as well on the uplands as in the valley
IS adapted to the culture OF the Sugar Cane
tuce, o'aisand Cotton, and Indian Corn. III.
'ee''o tt mas been healthy, aud il is fair TO pre.
sunhe 'h"' u VIII continue so the Winters are of
oo"'s' ihi'o' ana being within the reach of the
Grated. '"ou
The appearances of a dense population which
saens at one time to have covered ths cn,,n,r,,
mas ihauced me TO make some inquiry. lVb;Ia
az Havana, could learn nothing but while n,
charleston, met with an English po,l Ri,
erts' account OF Florida, 1863. which g;vcs a
piece OF history apparently but little kno,,,
The district Of Apalache, il appears. was ;nbah;
ted by a race called Antinaco Indians with wbon,
the Spaniards had become intermiagled. TLn
famassee Indians. who lived near 81. Aup,,stino
backed by those OF Apalache, made frequent en-,
cursions into the new settlements OF South Car.
DINA, threatening them with total destruction.
In consequence ofthis, Col. Moor. Governor of
that State, made three nroaGs into their country
IN the years 1902, and 6, marching to the
Iha, river, and then taking direction to the
ooutn' towards Tallahassee. in his last expe.
ai''on ne entirely defeated The Spanish Cover.
nor, aDon Juan Mexia, killing aud taking pri-
I''-fSaoeye eight hundred ofthe Spansards and