The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-06-19

exceedingly valuable ard 70 be found
only IN the British Museum and few
private historical collections. The
Kings Road, still leading from Fort
harrington, On the ST. Mary's river,
TO ST. Augustine, was constructed III
i765 by the subscriptions OF private
gentlemon, showing q pn2Iic spirit
which may be regarded as indicating
the character Of the people then inter
ested il sbe Sta1e. Among them
Were the names OF Grant, Moultrie,
Pinckney, Elliot, Murray, l-aarens'
and others who, when driven by po-
litical changes from Florida, inaugu-
rated and insured the greatness Of
South Carolins.
England regarded tie vast forests
of live oak, still furnishing timber for
the American navies, as an Invaluable
treasure, and sent forty families from
Bermuda TO Mosquito, in l7dG, for the
purpose os utilizing - DR.. Andrew
Turnbull, Scotch gentleman, and
Sir William Duncan brought fifteen
hundred Greeks, Italians and Minor
cans to Mosquito under contract to
labor in payment for passage to this
country, and Termed 81 settlement
which was called New Smyrna.
They raised indigo and sugar cane
successfully, aud planted grapes and
figs Many grants of land were made
along the banks Of rivers in Florida
in l756. In 1878, Pensacola com
prised several hundred houses The
govern r's house was Of stone. the
town was defended by large fort
ress and many merchants and pro.
iessional gentlemen there had finely
bailt Aeuses.
About this lime Major Moultrie
and IsoEds Egmont, Granville, Hills
boro and Hawks, whose names are
still papetuated in onr geography,
received large grants of land and set
tied in Florida. MIR. Oswald, also
gentleman Of fortune, established
plantation on the Halifax river, at a
place pow known as Mount Oswald.
DeIs ssssells.., IA ll4ez-ef I4erd Role,
| located at Charlottis, about three
miles ABOVE Palatka, in 1866. Sew
eral other plantations were establish
ed on the upper St. Johns.
Florida remained loyal to England
during the American Revolution, and
when the Declaration of Independ-
ence wasannounced at St. Augustine,
John Adams and John Hancock were
burned in efigy on the public square
Of The town Nearly seven Thousand
loyalists came TO Florida from South
Carolina and Georgia il 1878. y
Provincial Assembly was formed and
| the government resembled that Of the
| Federal Colonies. These Were the
beginnings OF. q prosperous State.
| The exports of East Florida in 1858
amounted to $4,000; in IT'S they
reached $4,000. During one year
fifty schooners entered the port of St.
| Augustine engaged in the coasting
trade, and also several square rugged
vessels from London and Liverpool.
No indigo brought so high a price in
the English market as that from Flor
ida So early as 1872, 10000 pounds
Of this product were exported in a
single year. in 1879, 10000 barrels
Of naval stores were shipped.
AT this period emigration was fill
ing country t'iat was proving 10 DC
generous in its productiveness, and
the inhabitants of Florida, enjoying
the fullest measure Of Constitutional
liberty, were fiattering themselves
with the prospect of long years OF
peaceful prosperity. Says Mr. Fair
banks, the historian of Florida:
"By the influx of a hardy race of
planters from Georgia and South Car
DINA. experienced N iar'ni"g and IN
ured to the difficulties ana Obstacles
attending new stttlem nt-, . orw I'M
petus had been given and ' prov
ince had attained IA p"si'ra which
promised to make il on p Sper-