The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-12-24
Chaes9atelIillle'1tirlfj,e,rl,. 81 {, /.
rnE I.LAND or q. TnoMAs.
Extract from Letter by vice Adml.
..fiFnl Porter. l-r

- - ANAtAAtAE ~ NNAt AAVAANAHs
Extract from u Letter by vice Admit.
4ss,G ou,TFal Porter. .. i,yl
Thsiproposltion to purchase the L..
land OF ~. Thomas, In the West indies,
has called from Admiral Porter OF the
United States Navy, n general letter In
regard 10 the Island, from which we
take the following extract; agr,
Nothing can be more delightful than
the society OF st. Thomas. HospItable
TO fault, all strangers, particularly
Americans, receive the greatest kind.
ness and attention. These hospltalitleA
are on q scale copmenaurate with the
wealth and Importance OF the inhablt-
auts. There are few more beautiful
prospects than the splendid panoramic
view from the highest point In the Is.
land, where the whole town and bay
Of ST. Thomas Is spread out like map
ut your feet, and whence vessels at sea
can be seen approaching ut distance
Of thirty miles. This 10 In fact the best
lookout In the West Indies. Nearly
all vessels run for the Anegada pas.
sage In making the West indies,
and cannot pass without being
seen from 81. Thomas. The fol-.
lowing named islands ARE In plain
sight from 81. Thomas In Rll weather:
The VerdRnt island Of Santa Cruz and
the lurge island OF Porto Rico; also the
innnmerable small Islnnds OF the Vir-
gin group, which make Il an enChant.
ing pluCe TO cruise In. The trade wind
blows throughout the yenr over the
hills and bay OF 81. Thomas, although
II Is rather hot In the town In midsuin-
mer. The summit Is covered with
handsome cottages, where those Of the
inhabitants who can afford II retire for
comfort and fresh air. The tropical
shrubs which abound In this island are
especially beautiful, gigantic cactus
and aloe growing in all the Wild free
dom OF unchecked nature, and every.
thing else luxurlatlng In the most fan
tastic conformations, forming a scene
OF much novelty and beauty to a
stranger. There Ia no place where a
stranger enjoys himselfmore than at ST.
Thomas, and II the island was
the property of the United States
II would become popular re.
sort. The Inhabitants have trad
ed with US so long that their habits
assimilate with ours They are repub.
lican In their Institutions, aud would
not have TO change their actual form OF
government in coming into the Union.
Although In fact belonging to mon
arohy, their system Is republican. All
the officers Of the island, except the
Governor and Que or two others, are
appointed by the Home Government.
II may be tGeLL to mention that The tNhdbi-
td,lts are mostly eoLored; but they are e1-
tremeiy tOeLt educated. Nearly all the
clerks IN The stores are cOlOred.
1t Is ange that Mr.. Johnson, In
view OF all that he has written about
the dangers Of negro supremacy, and
In view OF the vast embarrassments al
ready crowdiug upon us by a supposed
over-supply Of that race, should be ne.
for fresh supply of demor-
alizlng material in the shape OF an
island where the disparity of the races
in numbers ls even more decided than
In South Carolina and Florida, aud
where, Ooh tell It not to Nasby, } smear.
ly all the clerks In the stores are col
Ored."