Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-10-24
The hatidn Climate in The Uuited Sfates.-

The Italian Climate IN The Uuited Sfdtes.-
We are indebted to friend for the following ex-
tract of a late letter from st. Augustine. AS re-
peated enquiries are made respecting the eli
mate-the mode of reaching that City, &C., &C.,
we agree with him in the hope that it may afford
desirable information to several Of our readers.
Richmond Eng
"Sr AUGUSTINE, 25th July, 1884.
"You will excuse my not replying to your
kind letter ere this time, although cannot plead
that professional engagements or bodily indis-
position has pseyented my giving you that
early attention. j. demanded. Attribute it to
that ennui which sometimes pervades the SYSTEM
and is so diffIcu't to be shaken of. have now
been nine rDorths in st. Augustine, in which
time. have had fair opportunity of estimating
the climate, both as to its winter and summer
tcmperature.-I am fully satisfied, that the eli
mate Of East Florida is more uniform than i'm
any other part of the United States; and so far as
atmosphere is concerned in the restoration of the
invalid, it far surpasses France or Italy, if the
statements of Johnson, Matthews, and other ira
vellers, are to be relied on.
st. Augustine is situated in North Lat 80
deg. Is min, on a peninsula but little elevated
above tide water, about three miles from the
ocean.-Thc entrance Of The harbour is crcui-
tous and accessible to vessels of light draft Of
water--t is protected from the violence of the
sea by Anastdsia Island, which lies in front Of
the city, and extends south near 20 miles.-The
Gulph stream comes within 20 miles ofthis place;
the warmth of its water has sensible effect on
the atmosphere here, when the wind is from the
south or east. These are the prevailing winds,
and it is through this influence that the win
tiers here are more mild than in any other section
of our country in the same latitude Although
the months of December and January are usual
ly COOL yet We are not subject to much frost; the
luxuriant growth ofthe orange tree is sufficient
attestation of that fact
"The city is very rregularly built, streets mar
row and crooked, dwellings mostly constructed
of stone, in th.sSpansh style, void Of good taste
or convenience; many Of them have orange
groves attached to them, which give an enliven-
ing aspect to this ancient town. Many of the
tropical fruits are cultivated here in small guam
titles, but there is great want OF industry in
agriculture We had large number Of inva-
lids here last winter, and regret to say, that
many of them were badly accommodated. In
future, this will be remedied-two large estab
lishments are preparing to be opened this win
ter; these, in addition to the former ones, will
greatly enhance the comfort of visitors.
GAS the demand increases, the markets will
be better furnished with meats and vegetables.
Although, in this small place, they cannot OBJ
tain that great variety which our large cities Of
fer, yet, with little exertion, we may have am
pie supplies Of beef, venson, and poultry: fish
and oysters are abundant and cheap. The faci
lities of reaching this place are greatly increas-
ed There is irregular packet between this and
New York; two packets to Charleston; steam
boat from Savannah, by the inland passage in
to the river ST. Johns, to this place, makes trip
once week. This will give steamboat pas
sage from New York to Picolate, lon the st.
Johns, only IS miles from this city, via Charles
ton and Savannah.
"My health has so much improved by my re-
sidence here. that am induced to bring on my
family this fall. They will, probably, return
with me about the 1st October"