Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-06-12

Correspondence Of the Free Prs
Letter from Florida.
MARYLAND, ST. AUGUSTINE, May 23d, 1857.
DEAR EDiToRs The nIonotony of my life hero
in Augustine has had an agreeable interruption.
friend who resides here gave me a cordial in
vitation to spend few weeks with him on his
plantation at Newcastle, on the st. Johns-and
was glad enough to avail myself Of this oppor-
tunity to with my own eyes this peculiar fea-
turc of Southern lilc-for had begun to fear
that was destined to return North without hav-
ing seen even a cotton field.
Travelling in Florida is monotonous at best
Even I, who always preferred stage coach to a
rail-car, would gladly have exchanged my outside
scat hero for window in the cars, if might but
look out on the hills and woods, rivers and or
chards of New England. The route to Picolata is
an almost unbroken plain. being for the greater
part of the way pine barren-in which, however,
the barren prcdominatcs over the pino-thc trees
being very few and scattering. Farther of they
appear thickor-nnd in the distance they seem to
form thick wood, and promise you shade, but as
you advance they recede, and your forest is always
only prospective-keeping its distance unchanged
as the rainbow-and leaving you under scorch-
ing sun. Our ride on tho st. Johns was more
pleasant. The st. Johns is certainly large
river, varying in width from two to five miles
and reminding one strongly Of the st. Lawrence,
between Montreal and Quebec. Here, too, the
scenery is all told in three words-water-an un-
broken horizon of tree tops-and sky. There are
indeed here and there hummocks, but if the word
l. -
idea of it. The word hill is not used in Florida, l
believe. They sometimes speak of bluffs and
he.chts-but hills, l believe there are none-at
least in this vicinity.
ride of forty miles in the steamer brought us
to Jacksonville, pleasant village and the most
like New England, of anything that have seen
at the South. In some of its wide streets the
giant live oaks left standing in their natural
notwithstanding the whole street completely,
and festooned with the Florida moss. The road
winds along through the trees as best it can-and
Nature rules, and man is elbowed about, and
strange to say he does not think Of grumbling
about it.
We spent the night at Jacksonville and pleas
ant sail of six miles III small boat the next
morning, brought us to Newcastle. This spot is
rendered interesting from its connection with the
early history of Florida. 1t was here that Me.
lcndcz suspended the manged remains Of the
French" We do this not as unto. Frenchmcn, bu,
as unto hcretics." The remains of Fort Carolina
still very plainly seen. the lines of the fort
and the four bastions, though only mounds OF
sand originally, are still easily traced, and the
rank growth of cotton tells the very spot where
lie buried the bones of the unfortunate French
Half mile below Newcastle is an Indian mound
the site chosen by them, Is their custom, or
high bluff on the bank of the river. The mound
seems to be mostly artifcial-and is raised IN
conical form above any other land IN sight Here
are burr their dcad-and by little digging
plenty of bones may be found. Its age is mys
terry of course. There are lying its summit
the decaying remains of giant oaks, but nothing
to mark its date.
But aside from its associations, Newcastle is q
pleasant place. The ground rises from the bank
of the river by gentle ascent for short distance
to the site Of the fort. where the house now
stands. About the house are magnificent oaks
and hickory trees hanging with graceful wells o.
moss. hiding their rough bark, and setting of
their light green foliage.
There about fifty negroes on the plantation,
think, They seem happy. Certainly they hav,
many privileges given them and many kindnesse
shown them-and their daily tasks are light, east
ly finished before dinner-nay sometimes, an
told, before breakfast. At night the youngster
are particularly merry. They frequently stay GU
doors at their games until near midnight. By da,
they are employed in caring for the little one
while the parents are at work. We spent tw,
Sabbaths here-on each Of which l met the ne
groes to hold a meeting and talk to them. The,
are voy attentive, with open ears and eyes-ant
nostrils too-lest word should escape them
One cannot help being interested in them. l new
or spoke to SO attentive an audience before. The,
sing we'll. too-for they are accustomed to hol,
meetings themselves-one of their number read
ng them a chapter and giving them an exhorta
ton in his simple way. At the close of their ser
vice they strike up
"0h Nicodemus, you'll be de one,
Yes, yes, you'll be de one
Oh my brudder, you'll be de one
To set-on lions hill.
Religion dey make me happy,
Happy, happy
Oh Religion dcy make me happy
To set on lions hill"
The first two or three words in each line ex
eept the last, are sung as solo-and the one who
leads grasps the hand Of the next person to him
as they stand in circle. At the second verse he
shakes hands with the hext, and another follows
him until they have all gone round In each verse
they substitute for the word Nicodemus the name,
of the persons present by turns, filling up the me
tire with their favorite " daddy, uncle, brudder
sister, &c" | could not help holding out my
hand to each of them as they came to the place
where | stood Their oarnestncss was affecting.
They are building themselves little house, OF
one of the pleasantest locations on the place. t
hold their meetings in.
There are some fine voices among them, especi
ally among the boys. On Sabbath evening We
were sitting on the piazza singing few old ia
vorto hymns-a FIRE of moss was burning neal
us, md around it sat some of the boy-lsteninl
very attentivey. After we had finished they wer,
persuaded to sing. They really showed power AM
sweetness of voice which would be highly priced
and cultivated under different circumstances.
After a visit Of fortnight turned my face
homcward. On the morning Of my departure
cut from the site Of the old fort an orange stick
which will often recall to me my pleasant trip tC
Newcastle
Yours truly, J.J.
Gov. WALLER evidently proposes to use
freely that potent ally of Democracy
liquor, in this work of making pro slav
cry Democratic State of Kansas. Upon