Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-15

door, in sleep that could hardly experience another
waking litter Of great wardogs in the shape Of battered
while members Of the same family might be seen
lying dismantled in every direction in the open spaces
the fort Another and far curious room was that
which the builders had designed for chapel with inches
In the solid walls for holy water and recess for the ata
and the crucifx and where many old Spaniard must
have kne to their beads and pray only few mo-
ments before their loyalty called upon them to apply the
match that would send their civilized savage enemies
by hundreds into eternity. /
old fortress the denomnated the dungeon is the most
interesting In accidental manner was 1t discovered
by the falling in Of aporon OF the rampant attached 10
the wall aud in the deepest mystery is its history IN
yolyed II came to light soon after the had been
ceded to the United States at which time, as our oca
guide informed u.s. there found in one corner OF It
human skeleton, the soes of pair Of shoes, and an
earthen jug and cup Not eiDge other object dld It's
aked smy arched walls cover, and these, even after
M Eve feet thickness had been broken through, could
no be seen without torch, intense was the dark
ness When we entered this dreadful prisonhouse the
reicshad been removed aud scattered, but the same
heavy Nrkness there, and by the match that we
ighted se could nothing but the solemn walls ana
our footpfats upon the dust-covered floor Whe II the
story be true was the being that perished in this living
gravef or whit nation? What his crime if indeed he
was criminalf Was he victim of religious bgotry
Ii So he must haze been noted one What death was
that to die What subject for thought the fancied his
tory of that poor hortal And oh how cheerful and
balmy was the pure an Of heaven the delicate fragrance
OF flowers and the sigh sweety smiling faces after We
nau escaped from THIS horrible place! s.
The city square of Augustine to which have alluded
occupies central pesitionn the town, and is quito
characteristic ornament. The promenading portion is
only partially enclosed and tht too with what might be
called post and rail fence, andn the centre of it stands
monument some twenty feet high, which commentaries
the giving Of constitutional basis to the Spanish Gov
ernment. 1t s one Of many which erected in yari
portions of the Spanish doninions and with this
order Of Ferdinand the ms accession 10 the throne
is quite graceful affair." and its only inscription is
10 aI,( f;t,.tnp fha
which bound the square situated the principal public
buildings of the place On the west is an old dapdated
mansion which was the residence of former Spanish
Governor, but is used hall of justice and fer the
public Offices the north is half demolished Catholic
church, interesting from its antiquity, with bare stone
walls and stone foor several images, and fiat piece Of
mason work running up to point in 'front.' in which are
cut four wndow-ike holes, containing each partly
cracked bell the east small market house, which
occupied after SUNRISE according to peculiar
custom Of the place. and the bell which summons the
Catholic population to the market people TO
suspend their dealings in the things Of life and the
south side Of the square is small but neat and we'll
portened Episcopal church, in which, well as n the
Presbyterian church i'll another part of the town. be
enjoyed at the present time unusually good preaching
from the lips of two talented gentlemen The prevailing
religion of Augustine however, is the Catholic, and,
Christmas is Mt hand, have had opportunity to wit
the custom which in this town invariably precedes
the Carnival Masauerading parties formed by the
young Of Mnorcan blocd and with bands OF music
they parade the streets until midnight, and by virtue Of
the forbearance of the Protestant population enter their
dwellings without ceremony and cut up their fantastic
capers after which they retire to some rendezvous in
their quarter Of hs town. and spend the remainder
of the night in dancing and festyy to which they ere
universally addicted.
An amusing spectacle is also exhibited at the close of
Carnival week in honor Of St Peter the fisherman of
Gaee by which his professional skill in the of the
net is attempted be illustrated An eyewitness de-
scrbes tas follows As passed along of the streets
my attention arrested by motley crowd of black
and white people. ut first ut loss to account for
the rabble and the horrd noises they made On nearer
approach perceived two half grown men heading COM
pany Of maskers who clothed in shermans dress.
Over the shoulder Of each hung common Spanish
net. Whenever unsuspicious person c-me within
range of cast the net was suddenly thrown over hrs
head enclose his person and then of fol-
lowed of boisterous laughter Thus the streets
we're bcset until the farce was ended.n
In describing the objects of interest at St. Augustine
must not forget to mention the United States Barracks
which occupy spot where formerly stood monastic
retreat. The buildings are pain but have cheerful
md comfortable appearance, and command fms view OF
country in the rear as well as OF the In the
military graveyard adjoining, under appropriate memo
ra reposc the ashcs Of hundred and American
soldiers who fell sacrifice to the Seminsles p the Indian
war; and who the first fruits Of the famous threat
which Oceoa made on closing his intercourse with the
whites after he had declared his intention to leave
the grave Of his athers and had been refused the pryi
lege of purchasing powders Am nero 2? said he
slave? My skin is dark but not black. Indian,
q Seminole The white man shall not make me black
will make the white red with blood and then backen
him in the and rain, where the wolf shall smell his
Zones and the buzzard live upon his flesh"
But my pen is impatient to touch upon genial
theme, and that shall be the climate of this region.
That St. Augustine enjoys many advantages in this
particular cannot be questioned and the may be
said Of the peninsula of Florida in general If grey
haired who have passed the greater part of their
lives here are to be believed, equable and salu
brous climate hardly any where be found 1t is in
deed evergreen land whose breezes soft,
balmy, and exharating. While its short winters
usually mild render fires unnecessary, its long
summers far from being irksome dcprcssing and
whole volumes of testimony could be produced to prove
that nearly ALL il not quite ALL the pulmonary diseases,
when taken in their ncpient stages may be eradcated
under theinaence Of this climate The average number
of ar days in year. and for series of years. has been
nsccrained to two hundred and fifty; while in the
Northern States the average number of fair days per
annum has been fixed at hundred and twenty. Once
in great while jack frost makes flying visit to North
Florda but by the time that he the little
pools with film of ce nps with his fingers the
youthful orange trees he hears the signing of the trade
Winds and departs for the north Suddenly than he
came. 1t is not my province to speak a length upon the
subject of this southern climate, with regard to its ad
vantages disadvantages in medical point OF view.
The theories and antugonistic that
those who fee to Florida to escape their diseases had
better trust themselves to the Divine Physician than to
their medical advisers to the learned dissertations Of
the writing doctors who getting to be very nume
rous throughout the land.
For those who would sing the praises of this climate
no better plan could be devised than catalogue the
flowers which in full bloom here in the open air
the jonqu the Spanish pink the rose the oeander the
datura and geranumand its chief productions in the
way of fruit 1t is indeed genial that it nourshes
with uxuriance in the open air nearly a the fruits pecu