light than that of a momentary source, dependent upon political events not likely to recur;-at the same time the reader, and those persons proposing to become settlers in the new country, may be assured of the resources of it, as well by a view of the past, as by a comparative estimate of the growing wealth and prosperity of the adjacent states, se assimilated in many respects.

To the articles of manufacture and export, common, as staple commodities, to the neighbouring states, may be added stone, of which there are many quarries of a peculiar quality; and lime, which can be made in this province from the oyster shells, more abundantly, with less expense, and of better quality than elsewhere; and pot and pearl ashes in like manner. The oranges are of all kinds and qualities; the sweet should be wilted and packed as apples for transportation, the sour squeezed into juice, and the peel used as a marmelade, and for medicinal purposes when dried. The flowers can be distilled into an essence equal to otto of roses. Limes and citrons, either green or as preserves; the loblolly bark, for the purposes of tanning, which is here in great quantities, more convenient than oak, possessing a more forcible astringent; palma christi, commonly called castor, and benni oil, known for their medicinal virtues and table properties respectively, may be made in the greatest quantities, at a trifling expense.-The honey of the peninsula has been seen in a crystallized state, almost as white as snow, and of the most delicate flavour.

Among the present articles of export, are the fish spe cies; the turtle and sheepshead, and the roes of the mullet,

which when cured is said to be equal to the caviar of Europe: thus deriving from this piscatory region articles of research for the epicure, and ornamental tortoise shell for the beau monde. Add to these, the alligator skins, peculiarly adapted for boots and shoes.

The trade in peltries was carried on with the Indians formerly, in this province, upon an extensive scale, by Messrs. Panton and Leslie, Spaulding, Kelsull, M'Latchie, Swanson, and M'Gilvray, and Strother; and in West Florida by the former and Messrs. Mather & Morgan. They all withdrew from it at the peace of 1783, except Messrs. Panton, Leslie, and Forbes, who obtained from the Spanish government a special extension of privileges, of which they availed themselves until a late period, having to contend, on the one hand with the rapacity of British cruizers, (although they were licensed by their king and his council,) and on the other, with difficulties incident to a state of dependence upon the favour of the Spanish government, which limited them to two vessels a year at the ports of Pensacola and Mobile, and to articles not of the production of the Spanish colonies, but exempted them from the droit d'aubaine, and the colonial duty of six per cent.

Here the commercial and manufacturing interests will not clash, as in the eastern and populous states, but mutually support each other; as the latter must depend upon the former for their supplies, in exchange for the manufactures, which will be in general of a nature for export, and thus establish a reciprocity of interests, the surest foundation for permanent friendship and advantage.

The jealousy and competition between foreigners and our ship owners, which exists in the trade of the southern states, derives no encouragement from the annexation of the peninsula, in forming the arrondissement of the United States, and leaving no nucleus, or subsidiary, to foment those mercenaries who would barter the undivided moiety of the Union for a license to fish on the banks of Newfoundland, and then surrender (if they could) the remainder, for a participation of the India trade, or of that of the southern states; which last they might, by a more laudable policy, ensure exclusively to themselves.

The trade on the eastern side must be carried on by coasters, fitted out and owned in the north, from the nature of the coast, and other circumstances too obvious to need an enumeration, which that on the west cannot soon interfere with for want of population and settlement, since some time will be required to develope its vast importance in every point of view, by affording to its inhabitants all the necessaries and comforts of life, and yielding to the United States and the commercial world its superfluous produce, hitherto unknown as articles of trade.

Such was the languishing state of these Provinces (embracing a thousand miles of sea coast) in point of trade, as well as of agriculture, under the dominion of Spain, that neither were calculated to afford resources to individuals, or revenue to the crown; but, on the contrary, rendered them unproductive to the former, as they have been burdensome to the latter. Since, appropriations from the more wealthy possessions were required to defray the exigencies of govern

ment; which were formerly settled by bills, (liberansas) on the Havana, in default of dollars in that quarter, when they could be spared. The remittances required were about $150,000 per annum.

It is proper here to remark that the most efficient revenue afforded to the crown was derived from duties collected at Amelia, during the embargo of 1808, and the war of 1812; which, upon a very reduced scale, yielded, it is said, $100,000.

The articles of trade of which this country can boast may be condensed, with those of the southern states generally, viz, cotton, rice, Indian and Guinea corn, bees and myrtle wax, lumber of all descriptions, and of the best kind, particularly live oak, pine and cypress, peltries and naval stores, cedar and cabbage posts, bark for tanning, alligator skins, stone, lime, oranges, lemons, limes and citrons, in kind, and in juice and preserves, fish and turtle, bear's oil, honey, perfumes, pot and pearl ashes.

In enumerating the articles of trade promising great advantage, it is due to the traders to apprize them of the destructive character of the worms to all vessels trading to the ports where the salt water is predominant; they should guard against them by means of copper or zinc. Vessels of easy draft of water should be employed until the bars are improved, or become perfectly familiar to the American mariner.

POPULATION.

Heterogeneous as the people of this country may be considered, their neighbours, under present circumtances, will naturally be anxious to know who they are, and what they formerly were.

It may fairly be presumed, from the tumuli, and other vestiges, frequently discovered in the Peninsula, that there formerly was an extensive population in this country, whose origin appears to be very uncertain.

In 1763, at the evacuation by the Spaniards, there were, in St. Augustine, three thousand inhabitants. In 1768, it is stated there were, in East Florida, six thousand, not including Indians or troops; and, in 1778, an increase, by emigration from the Carolinas and Georgia, of near seven thousand loyalists, with their slaves.

The Minorcans, brought into the Province by Dr. Turnbull, have in general remained in it, and served, from their regular mode of life, and industrious habits, to increase the population. The families introduced by Mr. Rolle, about four hundred in number, became dissatisfied, and took refuge in the Carolinas; so, also, did the` Highlanders, who arrived in 1772, having been prevailed upon by the M'Intosh's to settle in Georgia.