This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

[	235	J
six leagues in length, but in no place more that one wide. The distance from St. George’s Island across the sound, is from one to two and an half leagues. The next island is not laid down in any of our charts : it is about two leagues in length, and two miles east of St.
George’s Island. The main channel into the sound, is near the west end of this third island. From this third island to a fourth, which at low water sometimes joins the main land, the water is too shoal for any other than coasting vessels.
The latitude of the east end of St. George’s Island where the schooner Fox, (already mentioned*) .was cast away, is 29° 44' 38' N. and the longitude, (by taking the resuitfbf a lunar observation made at the mouth of the Chattahocha as a correct point,) 5h 38' 35' west from Greenwich. The sound is so full of oyster banks, and shoals, that it is difficult to navigate it, without ^pilot.
The coast on the north side of the sound, is inter-	, %
sected and cut to pieces by such a variety of water	y*
courses, several of which have evidently at some for-	^
mer period been mouths of the river, that it is extreme-	ji-	^
ly difficult to find the true branches: of this we had	c=	o
sufficient evidence.
The up-land of West,Florida, as it is now bounded, is generally of a very inferior quality, except on the Mississippi, and is of but little value for either planting or farming. The river bottoms, or flats are all	^
fertile; but too inconsiderable as tq quantity, or too low and marshy, to give much value to the province.
It may be observed, that no restrictions in.this country, have been found so effective, as to prevent settlements being made where the land has been good. A conclusion may therefore be fairly drawn, that this province, which has been aided by France, Great Britain
and
____ O
ms\
pn
rz ?
c.o - •
r? r-U
r: 1
u:
and Spain, each in her turn, and yet remain in a great degree unsettled*must be materially defective in point of soil.
It is true, that the cities or towns of Mobile, and Pensacola, have been flourishing places, but this was owing to causes not immediately dependent upon the soil. The latter was the seat of government while the province was held by Great Britain, and from the excellence of the harbour was much frequented by the shipping of that nation, and both places well situated for carrying on the Indian trade, which was at that time very considerable ; but that trade having greatly decreased, from want of inhabitants, and the necessary articles of exportation* those cities have declined also. Mobile is now beginning tp. recover, but this is owing to the; settlements forming north of * the boundary, on the Tomhe«;by,,*t\d. Alabama> Rivers, Notwithstanding the |kYptwble.s»tu«tion of thO»e cities, they can never be#f nxudt coniequenc© b\jt from the,settlement of the country,nQTth oftheboundary, which has greatly the advantage in point of soil and climate.
Although West Florida is of but little importance, when considered alone, and unconnected with the .country north of it, it is ofimmense consequence when viewed as-possessing all the avenues of commerce to,
-	and from a large productive country. A country extending north from the 31st degree of north latitude, to ,the sources of, the Pearl, Pascagola, Tombecby, Ala-bafea, .Qoenecuh, Chattahocha, and Flint Rivers, and at least 300 miles from east to west. The coast of this proriiMtt aboupds iiv live-o*k and red cedar, in considerable abundance, fit for ship building, which is not to be met with north of the boundary.
From the safety of .he coast of this province, added to the great number of harbours proper for coasting
vessels,