The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-05-27
~ { IN TRrmS.
Correspondence Of the Banner.)
Fort Melon, FLA. May 4, 1916

{Tlcn0 -AHcN: IL lilenueu 10 WTltc
you from St Augustine, but concluded
to visit the country cast of the ST. Johns
river before writing. We left Savan-
nah on Saturday, the 25th ultimo, at
p. Nj, and passing down the river, be-
low Bonaventure, took an inland pas
sage, leading to Darien.
Bonaventure, is beautiful residence,
A miles below Savannah, on the right
bank of the river: formerly the residence
of Governor TATNALL On Sabbath
morning, at 8 o'clock, we arrived at Da-
rien, which is situated on the left bank
of the Altamaha river. We had scarce
ly touched the wharf before we were
boarded by an innumerable number of
pirates, who commenced operations OH
our persons Immediately. |, at first,
made most powerful efforts to resist their
attacks, but found my efforts vain, and
being ovcrpowered by numbers, yield
ed, i'll sullen silence, to be robbed Of my
blood. | had often been attacked by
gnals and mosquitoes, but never before
had yielded, to an armed occupation
OF my person, 10 an invincible army Of
sand flies.
Darien is situated on a sandy bluff,
gently rising from the river, and but Il
few feet above the water. 1t is a mace
of but little business, having but thin
ly inhabited back country to support it,
and is evidently Oh the decline.
After a detention Of half an hour, we
bade adieu to Darien, and her sand flies,
and were on our winding way for ST.
Marys. On our way to ST. Marys, we
passed Frederica, one of the first preach
ing places of the great JOHN WEsLY.
This place is almost obsolete; l think
there are but two dwellings left. We
also passed the humbug city of Bruins
wick, where may be seen the stake
marked boundaries of several city lots,
and the foundations of several splendid
houses that aoere to be buiH ODiamond
Spring! 0 A1orus Muiticaulis!!
At o'clock, p. NJ, we arrived at ST.
Marys, on the ST. Marys river, where
we remained until the following morn
ing. St. Marys is an interesting place,
laid ou, in regular squares, each side of
which is l30 yards wide, and the eros
ing at right angles, are 40 yards wide.
At the junction Of every street is pub
lie pump, and the streets are all beauti-
fully shaded with ornamental trees. In
site, is medium sand bluff, gently RI
sing from the river for the distance of
half mile. The buildings areAeat,
very few of them expensive, and none
of them very elegant. Almost every
citizen has an orange grove in his en-
closure. The rlace contains ID stores,
4 churches, besides other public build
ings for various purposes. There arc
about 60 dwelling houses. Judging the
inhabitants by the number of their
churches and the ncatncss of their re-
ceptacle for the dead. l should pronunce
this people distinguished for their taste,
their morality and religion.
On Monday morning, ut 4 o'clock,
we left St. Marys, and after passing the
bar, were, for the first time IN the At.
lantic Ocean. We had but 81 miles to
sail before entering the St. Johns river
twenty-five miles up the river we haul
ed up to the wharf at Jacksonville
This seems to be place Of considerable
business, having several stores, and the
inhabitants seem to be possessed of bu
slness.liks habits. The shallowness o.
water on the bar at the mouth of the St
Johns, and the want Of commodiou:
harbor, will probably prevent this from
becoming place Of much commorcia
importance.
On leaving Jacksonville, we sail near
ly due south, up the St. Johns river
perhaps the only river in North Ameri
ca running any great distance due north
St. Johns river, for the first $50 miles
will average from 2 to 5 miles in width
and has, at this time, a current of from
to 8 miles per hour.
About S miles from. Jacksonville, W.
pass the elegant plantation of Captain
q r n