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Near this is an eligible spot for a fortification to command the entrance into the St. Johns. This is worthy the attention of government, when it considers the resources the nation will, before long, derive from the settlement of the country to which that river leads.

The St. John's is thirty-six miles south of St. Mary's, and is the principal river in East Florida. In point of commercial and agricultural importance, as well as grandeur of scenery, it is likely to become second to none in North America, except the Mississippi. Its source is not exactly ascertained; but no doubt soon will be, by actual survey.

The Indians report, that canoes passed from the Atlantic, by this river, to the Gulf of Mexico, through lakes Dun, George, and Mayaco: should this be incorrect, it would require, at all events, but a small distance of canal to connect that Gulf with the Atlantic. The anchorage on the outside of St. John's bar is good; but the bar is an obstacle to entering the river, which, however, will no doubt be removed, in time, by the ingenuity and industry of its new masters. It lies in lat. 30 17, and is known by the high sand hill on the south cape, called General's Mount. It admits vessels drawing ten feet, and at high water those drawing thirteen feet, and carries them up 150 miles, as far as Lake George. Captain Mulcaster, of the British engineers, says, he sounded the bar himself, and found nine feet at low water. The whole length of the river is computed to be upwards of 300 miles, and it has a great number of tributary streams, many of which may be navigated by small craft.

From the sea this splendid river takes a course westward, alternately presenting along its whole length a variety of bluffs and levels worthy of notice by the traveller as he ascends it. On the north side branches out a creek called The Sisters, from two hammocks, or small islands, resembling each other, and so near as to leave a passage only for small vessels. On the south, at a small distance from its mouth, runs the river Pablo, by some called Pablo Creek, which takes a southern course, parallel with the sea for several miles, when it is intersected by Diego Plains. Its communication with St. Marks, or the North River, might be effected by a ditch, or canal, of five or six miles, thus continuing the conveyance by water from Charlestown to St. Augustine.

Oak timber, with which this country abounds, has been furnished in considerable quantities from this quarter for the construction of ships for the navy of the United States.

The land in the neighbourhood of Pablo is held in such high estimation, that many productive settlements have been made, and are now making. The plantation of Mr. John Forbes, on which Messrs. Fatio and Fleming now work their hands, and those of Don Bartolo, Messrs. Fitch & Chairs, and Mrs. Baker, are the most conspicuous.

No part of the country comes more generally into notice than this, from its presenting some of the largest settlements on the present route from the United States to the capital of the province.

Diego Plains afford the most luxuriant pasture for cattle,

which thrive there wonderfully; the mast for hogs is very abundant, and the wild cabbage is found in immense quantities in the adjoining swamp.

The extensive view of meadow, afforded by the open plains, exhibits a vast expanse of perpetual verdure, interspersed with clusters of small copped trees, surrounding cabbage swamps; the sea in front to the east, and an intermediate line of sand hills in the rear, to the west, treat the eye to the most picturesque prospect imaginable.

On the south side of the St. Johns, a few miles from the sea, is a bluff called by some Oglethorpe's, or Hubert's, on which a small town was settled by the British, in 1779, who were doing considerable business there until the evacuation, when it fell into ruins, from which it has never recovered. On the important subject of settling a town on this river, to become, perhaps, the most commercial, if not the metropolis of the territory, the conflicting interests of speculators and land proprietors will clash so much with the various claimants, that no correct opinion can be formed.

The single hand of government could be applied with more successful effect and general utility in promoting such a desirable object by timely direction, or early arrangement, than the projects of a hundred monopolizing lairds multiplied in a ten-fold degree.

The Cowford, so called from the number of cattle which crossed that part of the river, where it is more than a mile wide, comes next into notice. The water is here brackish in dry seasons; but in wet seasons it is drinkable. It is

twenty-eight miles from the bar, and serves to this day as a ferry for the main, called the King's road, from fort Barrington to St. Augustine, which, with little regulation and enterprize, can be made serviceable to the public. As to soil, although sandy, it is here very good. The shores are level and shoal, extending in some places, where it is three miles wide, one or two miles into the river.

In other parts of the river, there are bluffs, from twelve to fifteen feet perpendicular height from the surface. While contemplating the beautiful scenery which the shores of this river present, from the stately appearance of the magnolias, the cypress, the oak, and the pine trees, the appetite may be gratified by the greatest variety of choice fish, with which its waters abound; such as the sheep's-head, mullet, trout, bass, drum, sturgeon, garr, stingrays and cat; fresh water trout are frequently caught near the sea, while higher up the river, by an inadvertent change of position, travellers are regaled with those of the sea. Oysters and shrimps are also in great abundance, near the mouth of the river, and of the most delicious kind; to these should be added the store crab, surpassing the lobster in flavour, delicacy, and substance.

The Cattle Ford, says Bartram, has below it a marsh on both sides, with high oak banks. At William's Point, out of which issue several little springs, the water is pretty deep. Near these is Forbes' Bluff, where a sort of rush grows, to bottom chairs, or to make mats; it is better than the common three square or bull-rush. This bluff has been very productive, being covered with oyster shells, on which the Florida Indians, near the sea coast, chiefly subsisted. He

farther states, that St. Johns is, indeed, a curiosity among rivers. It rises at a small distance from the lagoon, called Indian River, somewhere in, or near, the latitude of 27; perhaps out of Lake Mayaco, which, I have reason to believe, really exists, and is the head of the river St. Lucia, as I was told by a credible Spanish hunter, who had been carried there by the way of this last river. From its source, it runs through wide extended plains and marshes till near the latitude of 28, where it approaches the lagoon. It then continues its course, with a considerable current, northward, and glides through five great lakes, all of which are very pleasant. Endless orange groves are found here; and, indeed, in all parts of the country. Below these the river grows wider, loses its current, and has in some places none; in others, a retrograde one; and lower down, it runs again in its true direction. The banks are very poor land, and exhibit in a number of places sad monuments of the folly and extravagant ideas of the first European adventurers and schemers, and the villany of their managers. The tide does not affect the river very far up. In many places, some extraordinary springs are found, which, at a small distance from it, on both sides, rush or boil out of the earth, at once becoming navigable for small boats, and from twenty-five to forty yards wide. Their course is seldom half a mile, before they meet the river. Their waters are so clear, as to enable one to see a small piece of money at the depth of ten feet or more. They smell strong of sulphur; and whatever is thrown into them soon becomes encrusted with a white fungous matter, the taste of which is bituminous, and very disagreeable;

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