The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-01-18

quoted at So 50dS6, according to quality
and leaf at $6@sl2. S.
Another Letter Concerning Florida
and Journey thcnce 20 Havana.
Correspondence OF The Richmond Dispatch.
HAVANA, January 7, 1869.
Letters descriptive Of Florida and dated
from Havana must present something OF
an homogeneous character, and mine must
for a while continue to present this incon-
gritty till can bring my narrative MP to
this point. But, after all, it is no great
matter, for they are not intended to be news
letters, but mainly sketches of scenes and
incidents Of travel. Indeed, as for news
we are dependent for all we get here on the
American papers--no citizen, as far az
have been able TO ascertain, having the
faiDtest idea Of the real condition of affairs
on the island.
The close of my last letter left US on the
moi of setting out from Enterprise. In
order to reach Havana it was necessary to
return to Jacksonville, and to ge thence to
Cedar Keys. where we hoped TO meet one Of
problematical line of steamers running
from New Orleans, and advertised to touch
q, Cedar Keys every Thursday. Accord
inrly we embarked on the little steamer
Hattie, and early on the morning of Sun
dav, December goth, started down the st.
Johns. At one of the landing places we
took on hoard party of rough and ragged
but good humored crackers" or people
from the rural districts, who were journey
ing from the Indian river, and who had
spent the preceding night in rafting pistols
and old clothes, and in buying whiskey
with the proceeds. Scarcely had they
touched the deck before these occupations
were resumed. An old pistol WAS whipped
out, and an eager canvassing for takers OF
chances was begun. We took chance, and
lost. The vivacity of these good people
gave most salutary flip TO our dull pas
sengers. Among other things, they estab-
lished court, doing me the great honor of
elevatipg me to the position of associate
Judge. This court took cognizaDce Of all
offences which might, could, would, or
should have been, or not have been, COM
mitted, and the penalties imposed consisted
of fines of tobacco and whiskey. As trial
and conviction were the same thing with
this tribunal, we had executed justice to
the extent of about box of tobacco
and barrel of whiskey, when suddenly
my colleague, the chief judge, was i'm
peached. His downfall was speedy and
complete his quart bottle of busthead
was confscated to the jury and drunk up
to the very dregs. I had passed SEN
tence upon him, and for this was myself
impeached of usurpation of authority and
fined an amount ruinously in proportion to
the high dignity of the Office held. / es-
capped only by pertinaciously claiming the
benefit of the bankrupt act; but the court,
not to be defrauded of its dues, Immediately
laid hold of our sheriff, who was forced to
pay all the fines he had failed to collect
from me and other contumacious prisoners
As we passed through the region of alliga-
tors the court rose, aud terrible fire was
opened upon them by judge, jury, counsel,
and prisoners.
We stopped OF Pilatka during the night.
This is small village-growing, however,
by the immigration Of persons from the
North, considerable number of whom have
bought plantations here, where they reside
during the winter, improving their health
and cultivating oranges. The Floridians
generally, however, have too high an OPT
MON of the value of their lands, and this
deters q great many who would otherwise
be disposed to purchase. -@
On the afternoon of the next day we
passed Mandarin, pretty little place. in
an ugly little house in which resides Mrs
H. B. Stowe, who came here to evangelize
and ciyilize the country. She made vast
efforts in behalf Of her African brothers
and sisters, who reciprocated by decapita
ting her chickens and numbering her pig:
in cold blood. She is said to have sincerely
ha~ 10 nnH
happy in the belief that her protegees vii
be destroyed in this world, and rejoicies il
the hope that they will be something worse
in the world to come. On the wharf saw
long legged, cadaverous youth, with hi!
hands in his breeches pockets, who was
pointed out to me as the nephew Of hi
aunt Harriet. A few miles further, and,we
landed at Jacksonville. ,.... J,
We left jacksonville on the Wednesday
following, expectingto reach Cedar Keys by
nightfall, but the fates forbade. We ira
yelled as far az Baldwin in an open car O
log-train, perched on our trunks-a nice
airy, smoky, and cindery position--atford-
ing good view of the country, whose fla
and sandy surface we looked at with atearfu
eye. Baldwin is place which I behelG
with no little interest, having q lively re-
collection of the triumphant announcement
in the northern papers during the war thai
"Our banners float over Baldwin
found it to consist of no less than three o,
four houses, and to be laid out after the
pan Of Venice, having canals mantliDg
with mud and water enoircling its habita-
ton. 1t is said to have prospered greatly un-
der the benign inhuencesof peace, inasmuch
as nearly all the houses have been white
washed since the war. Here we effected con-
nection with the train going to Cedar Keys,
and proceeded slowly, hungrily (there is no
dining station on this road and sleepily
along till within FIVE miles Of Gainesville,
when we were reused from our lethargy to
ind the train off the track. But NO person
was materially injured, owing, perhaps, to
the conservative influence Of the Florida
climate, or IT may be to the evenness and
sandiness OF the country, which ere very
conducive to safe and pleasant yailroad ac-
cidents. A couple of freedmeu, who were
COOLING themselves by riding ON the sum nit
OF one OF the cars, were projected head
- foremost into ditch, where they were well
moistened and partially suffocated in the
mud and this was the only personal
damage that accrued to the passengers.
This accident necessitated our stay oil
gainesville till ii o'clock at night. The
village happened to be in state Of grca,
ferment by reason of the assembling Of the