The missionary. (Mt. Zion, Hancock County, Ga.) 1819-182?, May 09, 1825, Image 1

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No. 44 Vdu Vl.] Tallahassee. We received, yesterday, the first number of a new paper, printed in Florida, at Tallahassee, the spot fixed upon and, recently occupied as the ieat or Government, by the title of the “ Florida In tilligenctr.” The following account of this young capital ’ will be interesting to most of our readers, some of whom have scarcely ever heard the name of it— Nat. Intelligencer , Bth April. lallahassee.— This young capital of Flor ida, i already attracting the attention of capitalists. Many buildings are erecting, and others are in state of preparation, ev cn before the sale of the lots, which will take place on the fourth day of April next. 31 is situated on a beautiful and commanding eminence, about 18 miles north of St. Marks, in the. bosom of a fertile and pictor esque country. The sonlh side of the town is watered by innumerable springs of pure water, and a clear and pleasant stream pas ses by the eat and south sides, at the dis tance of a few yards, and after passing the town, as il sensible the point of its useful ness was past, falls over the rock which beds the stream, forming a pleasant cas and passes ofl by a subterraneous parage. The country around Tallahassee, and extending from the Suwannee to near the Apalachicola river, has deservedly attract ed the attention of travellers, and those who have visited it with a view of a permanent settlement. The fertile lands bet ween the above mentioned rivers extend from east to west, from eighty to one hundred miles, and from north to south about fifteen miles. Ibis tract of country, much of which is adapted to the culture of sugar, is finely watered by the tributary streams of the Su wannee, the St. Marks, Wakulla, Okelocko ney, Little river, and several other smaller rivers and streams, and is beautifully stud ded with lakes and poods of the purest wa ter. The land is rolling, with here and there an eminence, (bat rises considerably above the surrounding country, and will af ford delightful seats for the opulent men of leisure. > This country notwithstanding its singular beauty and fertility, becomes more interes ting from the indubitable evidence of its having been once densely populated by a civilized race of men. Almost every emi nence is capped with ancient fortifications, which appear rpgular, and some of them substantially formed. At fort St. Lewis, about two miles west of Tallahassee, have been found remnants of iron cannon, spikes, hinges, locks, kc. which are evidently Spanish manufacture, and which have oot been much injured by the rust. Within the principal fort, for the out works seem to have been numerous and ex tensive, are the ruins of two brick edifices; one was about sixty feel by forty, the other about thirty by twenty. These are in to tal ruins, and nothing but a mound appeals where the walls stood, composed wholly of broken bricks, which had been composed of a coarse sandy clay, and burned in the modern fashion. Yet on the very walls of these buildings, are oaks, eighteen inches ip diameter. On the sauie hill, and in fact within the outworks of this fort, are to be seen grapp arbutus in parallel lines, which still maintain their pristine regularity. | Bricks seem to have been in general use, l for they have been discovered in several \ places by digging a little below the surface gl the earth. Within the town of (Talla hassee some, were dog up, having a sub stance adhering to them resembling lime mortar. But on the bill, ahofit a half a mile south-east of'tbe capital, are to be seen the greatest proof of a dene population. On this hill are to be seen sireels or roads, ruu ning nearly at right angles, at such distan ces as .demonstrate tbe former existence of a pretty large town. The shade trees of the former inhabitants suit remain, and are generally of live oak, and near which may be discovered grape arbours of more or Ipss regularity. In several instances we discovered a species of the plumb tree. There has been much speculation and in quiry Concerning tbe former inhabitants of this country, who they were, and at whßt lime they flourished. No records are with in our reach, and the Spanish inhabitants al (he extremes of the Territory had no knowledge of this country, much less of the people who once lived here, but have long since disappeared. Some, however, say that records of the fact do exist at Havana, and that measures have been taken to ob tain them —that Leon was the adventurer, who led a colony hither, but the precious metals of SAuth America and Mexico so oc copied the attention of the Spanish Govern ment, that this infant colony was suffered to full a prey"to the Indians. The traditionary accounts of the Indians are very plausible, nod are corroborated by many existing and circumstantial facts. They claimed this country at their late Ireaty al St. Augustine as belonging to them by right of conquest, achieved by their an cestors. They represent that it was once densely populated by a race of white men, who settled io this country, aud mcorporal ed themselves with the Yamassee Indians. That the Y'amassees adopted their habits and became Christians, but ceased to be fighting men. That this people had fine bouses, carriages, herds of cattle, Sic. and made wide roods, aud bridges over rivers naff stream* of water. That they also had the missionary. many forts and big guns. At this time the Creek Indians made frequent attacks upon them, but they were generally unsuccessful, as they then fought with hows and spears only, for they had nqf yet learned tbe use of the rifle. At length after losing many warrionrs, they associated with themselves all the tribes between Georgia and the Mis sissippi, with many others far in the North, and came down unexpectedly into this coun try. The while inhabitants generally fled to * heir forts, while most of the Yamasseea tell into their hands. The men were put to death, but the women and children were carried into captivity. They carried universal desolation over tbe face of the country, as the surest meth od of reducing the fortified place*. They had made many attempts to storm thefle, and bound thick pieces of wood before their persons, as a protection from the bullets, but (be big guns broke their defences in pieces, and destroyed their warrionrs. At length famine and war destroyed all save the garrison in Fort S(. Louis. Thi9, after resisting every diversity of attack, was at last abandoned and destroyed, and the gar rison retired to a considerable fort near the mouth of (he Okelocknny, where was af terwards fought a great and decisive battle, which made the Creeks masters of the couniry. The Indians designed, when they under took to possess themselves of the country, to settle and reside here. But as they ex pressed it, they were too foolish and had rendered it uninhabitable. They had des troyed tbe houses, and there was no wood to build others. They had destroyed or con sumed the dome-tick animals, and there was no game to *ub~ist them. They were, therefore, obliged to telire from thp scenes of (heir oivn desolation, a small part west of the Apalachicola river, and (he others to their own country. Many of the leading statements in the foregoing account are strongly corroborat ed by circumstances and facts wjihirt tbe knowledge of many Americans. This is said to be the couniry of the ancient Yam assees, and it is a fact, that the Creeks bate held a slave race, descended from the Yam,- assee nation, which has but recently been incorporated with their tribe. It is also a (act, that furls were very numerous, and that tort St. Louis bears evident marks of having been destroyed by (he whites from ihe muufated appearance of the cannon, which must have been broken by sledge hammers. There is also said to be a v'Ty considerable fortification in (he neighbour hood of the Okelockony. From tbe growth of thp forest trees, it must have been about two hundred years since tbe country was laid waste. Be that as it may, it is rapidly populating anew, and (lie power of the na lives is now broken. We have nothing to fear from them, and they cannot, if they would, repeat the desolating scenes which • uce swept over this beautiful domain. [Florida Intelligencer. From the Religious Chronicle. ARCTICK EXPEDITION. “They lhat go down to the sea in ship*, these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep ” Capt. Lyon, in his account of bis “ Unsuccessful Attempt to reach Repulse Bay by Sir Thomas Rowe’s Welcome,” which has been recently pub li*hed, gives the following striking account of the scene on board the Griper, at a mo ment when all on board had reaon to sup’ [lose their fives about to close by shipwreck in that dreary and desolate region. After touching at Southampton Island, where they were visited by a party of tbe natives, an extraordinary change took place in the deviation of the needle, which was the means of involving the Griper in the most imminent danger. She suddenly came into seven fathoms water, and was only by great exertions preserved from running on a destructive shore. In this situation, and fearing the falling of the tide, Capt. Lyon prepared for the event, by ordering the boats to be made ready. He thus describes the scene which ensued. “ The officers drew lots for their respec tive boats, and the ship’s company were stationed to them. ** * In making these preparations for taking to tbe boats, it was evident to all, that the long boat was the only one which had the slightest chance of liviog under the lee of the ship, should she be wrecked; but every officer and man drew his lot with the greatest composure, although two of our boats would have been swamped the instant they were lowered. Yet such was the noble feeling of those around me, (hat it was evident, that had I ordered the boats in question to be manned, their crews would have entered them with out a murmur. In the afternoon, on the weather clearing a little, we discovered a low beach all around astern of us, on which the surf was running to an awful height, and it appeared eviJenl that no human powers could save us. At three, P. M. the tide bad fallen to Iwpnty-two feet, (only six more than we drew,) and the ship having been lifed by a tremendous sea, struck with great violence the whole length of her keel. This, we naturally conceived, wa* t the forerunner of her total wreck, and we | stood in readiness to take to the boats, and OfaH,b‘Hi.po.i,ions .. d MOUNT ZION, (HANCOCK COUNTY, GEORGIA,) MONDAY, MAY 9, 1825. endeavour to hang under her lee. She continued to strike with sufficient force to have burst any less fortified vessel, at inter vals of a lew minutes, w henever an unusu ally heavy sea passed us. And, as the va ter wa9 so shallow, these might almost be called breakers rather than for each in passing burst with great force over our gangways; and, as every sea ‘topped,’ our decks were continually and frequently deep ly flooded. All hands took a little refresh ment, for some bad scarcely been below lor twenty-four hours, and I had not been in bed for three nights. Although few or none of us had any idea that we should sur vive the gale, we did not think that our comforts should be entirely neglected; and an order was therefore riven to the men to i”Jt on their best and vfarmest clothing, to enable them to support life as long as pos sible. Every man, therefore, brought his bag on deck and dresjed bimself, and, in the fine atbletick forms/ that stood exposed before me, I did not sea one muscle quiver, nor the slightest sign of alarm. The offi cers each secured some useful instrument about them for the purposes of observation, although it was acknowledged by all that not the slightest hope remained. And now (hat every ihing in our power had been dene, I called all hands all, and to a merci ful God offered prayers for our preserva tion. I thanked every one foi their excel lent conduct, and cautioned them, as we should in all probability soon appear before our Maker, to enter his presence, as (hen, resigned to their fate. We then all sal down in groups; and, sheltered from the wash of the sea by whatever we could find, many of us endeavoured to obtain a little slepp. Never, perhaps, was witnessed a finer scene than on >he deck of mv little ship, when all hope of life had left us. No ble as the character of a British sailor is al ways allowed to lie in cases of danger, yet 1 did not believe it to be possible that among forty-one persons, not one repining word should have been uttered The officers sat about wherever they could find shelter from the sea, and the men lay down con versing with each other with the most per fect calmness. Each was at peace with his neighbour and all the world ; and I am firm !v persuaded that the resignation which was then shown to the will of the Al mighty was the meant of obtaining his mer cy. At about 6, P. M. the rudder, which had already received some very heavy blows, rose and broke up the after locker; and this was the lest severe shock which (he ship received. We found by the well lhat she made no water, arid by dark she struck no more. God was merciful to us, and the tide, almost miraculously, fell no lower. At dark a heavy rain fell, but was borne with paliisnce, (or it beat down the gale, and hrought with it a light air from the north ward. At 9. P. M. (he water had deepen ed to five fathoms. The ship kept off the ground all night, and our exhausted crew obtained some broken rest.” The vessel escaped will the loss of the bower anchor, and Capt. Lyon named the scene ol trial the Bay of Gd’s Mercy. RELIGIOUS PROSPECTS OF SOUTH AMERICA. The following extract of an animating letter from a gentleman in London to his friend in tbi* city, which we copy from the Daily Advertiser, lead* us to form sanguine expectations in relation to the progress of religious truth io South America. The Mr. fi. here alluded to, we presume is Se nor Vicente Rocafuerte, a native of Peru, who was present at a meeting of the Amer ican Bitile Society, in 1823, and whose speech on that occasion we inserted in one of the first numbers of our paper. We un derstand, that while he was in this city, he manifested so much zeal for the welfare of his countrymen, that he directeJ a book consisting of select portions of the Scrip lures, to be translated into the Spanish lan gnage, and published an edition of the work at his own expense, for distribution in dif ferent parts of Mexico and South America. [V. Y. Observer. I have thi9 morning been at breakfast with a member of Parliament, where, among many others, I met our good friend from Peru, Mr. R. The Rev. Mr. Arm strong, who was in New York, is going out to South America, as the agent to tbe Brit ish and Foreign’ Bible Society, and the ob ject of this breakfast was to obtain all the information which could facilitate his intro duction there; —but more particularly to ascertain by what means moral and intellec tual light could find its way ia the most ef fectual manner, into those newly emancipa ted States. We were together about two hours and a half, and the quantity of accu rate information communicated during that time was truly astonishiug. It kept the mind constantly on the stretch. The hints given, and the plans suggested at this friendly meeting, would next go to those who are to carry them into operation. They were of a character calculated to produce their without shocking the prejudices, or controlling the opinions of the persons for whom they were designed. Fiom the facts communicated, it appears lhat the people in some parts of South America, are nearly prepared for the re- ception of troth in its purest forms. The means of introduction are ample, and prac ticable. Mr. R. has already established Lancasleriao schools in the principal towns of Mexico, and °aya they will extend to ev ery village. He has now translators at work on Milner’s Chnreh History, Pa ley’s Natural Theology, aud Moral Philosophy ; which are to be followed by his Evidences. In this silent way, be is introducing tbe purest aud most useful English authors. It is impossible, in the compass of many letters, to tell you the subjects which now occupy the minds of the best men io this metropolis. The most prominent are those which contemplate tile mcliOiation of IflaO, and tbe giving of the blessings of pure reli gion to the whole of the benighted world. The means of accomplishing these magnifi cent objects are ample. No sooner is a case fairly stated than it is met. The libe rality of the publick is commensurate with its prosperity. Labourers indeed are want ed ; but even these rise up on various hands. Pious merchants in the newly opened conn tries, and commanders of vessels are now the bearers and distributors of the Bible. A merchant of high standing, who was at the breakfast above referred to, has sever al ships in the South American trade; and besides making his own agents the means of distributing the Scriptures, he will convey the whole gratis, and give passage to any persons, sent out by different societies for the same purpose. POPERY IN IRELAND. A writer in the London Evangelical Mag azine for March, in illustration of the pros elyting spirit of tbe Catholick priests in Ire land, relates tbe follow ing account of a dis graceful scene which was recently acted in the town of Galway. Avery old man, who had been long a member of the Established Chnreh, and a hearer of the excellent Mr. Daly, the war den of Galway, was sick. On the afternoon of the day on which lie died, Mr. D. visited him and administered the Sacrament (o him, then left him, evidently near his end. Ha had not been long gone when the grand daughter of the persou came running to in form him, that tbe priest bad got iulo her grandfather’s room, and was going through bis ceremonies. Mr. D. immediately hastened to the house, and found the chamber tilled by a low rabble, chiefly women, who, as is their custom, followed the priest on these occa sions, when they saw tbe candles and the host proceeding through the street. Mr. D., of course much displeased at this intru sion, forced his way to the bed side of his parishioner, in order to preserve him from being disturbed in his last moments. In do ing this, he overturned the holy candles winch were lighted ; Ibis created a great bustle, when the rabble cried out to kill the clergyman, and tore part of his clothes. He continued to remonstrate with the priest on his unchristian intrusion, and called on him to desit, but be insisted on going on. Mr. t). then asked the dying man whether he wished to have the priest or his minis ter? He with his dying breath said, The Minister; and I bpfievedied whilst this was was going on. The priest and people were very violent, and had not the sheriff been providentially passing at that very time, who entered and rescued tbe worthy cler gyman, it is probable that he would have be.en murdered. The priest insisted that he should bury him as he died a convert to the Romish faith, aDd would have taken the corpse by force, in order to make a grand procession, proclaiming that be died a Catholick. This wa* prevented by the in terference of the police. In due time he was buried, Mr. D. reading the burial ser vice. Tbe following night the body was taken up, the coffin broken to pieces, and the naked corpse cast like a dead dog at the door of tbe mayor. —■xx:3*:xx**—- From the Boston Recorder Sc Telegraph. PEACE SOCIETIES. Societies of this description have, within a few years, been formed in this country and in Europe. Their object is to enlighten the minds of the people in relation to the delusions of War; and to induce Christians, of every denomination, to govern their lives both in publick and private by the mild precepts of Him, whose first advent into the world announced by the songs of angels—“ Glory to .God in the highest, on earth peace and good will to men.” Indi viduals, in this country and in Europe, die tinguisbed for their talents and piety, have espoused the cause of peace, and become members of Peace Societies; but it is a cir cumstance deeply to be lamented, that •th ere have viewed them with indifference ; or as Associations vain and visionary. It is al so a melancholy fact, lhat but few of the people of this country have any knowledge of the existence of Peace Societies, or of the valuable Tracts which they have pub lished. This fact is to be attributed in part to the little notice which has been taken of Peace Societies in (he publick journals; and to the small exertions which have been made to form Societies and raise funds. But something, by the blessing of God on the exertions of the friends of peace, has already been done, and no Christian map, [Price %3 50 per am. in view of this, and after having examined the subject, will pronounce the object of Peace Societies a visionary one. Without casting any reproach on other benevolent Societies, it may be affirmed, that Peace Societies, according to their numbers, funds, and the difficulties which they have had to encounter, have done nobly. Their influ ence has been felt on both Continents. Not a Christian, who has read their publi cations, will deny but that the spirit with which war is carried on, is contrary to tbe spirit of the Christian religion. Minister# aud others are therefore respectfully in vited to become members of Peace Socie ties, and to direct the attention of the young ’i to the subject. “War is a game, which, were their subjects wise, Kings would not play.” From the Boston Recorder Sc Telegraph. AMERICAN COLONIZATION SOCI ETY. The Eighth Annual Report oftbisSocie ty has just come to hand. It gives an en couraging view of the condition and pros pect# of the ColoDy in Africa ; and affords reason to believe that the benevolent efforts which have been made in its behalf, will be ultimately successful. Indeed, they have succeeded already to a much greater ex tent than could have been rationally antici pated, considering the nature of thp under taking, and the difficulties it must necessari ly encounter at its commencement. Mr. Gurley, who visited Africa the last summer,found much in the circumstances of the Colony winch was highly gratifying. The eligible location of the town, the fer tility of the spil, the adequate defences, the improvements, the intelligence, health and morality of the Colonists, the Sabbath Schools, nnd many other thing*, seemed to promise permanent prosperity to the Colo ny. One Sabbath School is composed of native children. The cause in which the Society is engag ed, appears to be rapidly gaining ground in our own couniry. Popular sentiment is changing in its favour. Os this fact the Agents ot the Society have received abun dant evidence. An Association of Clergy men in New Hampshire has passed a reso lution, that each member of their body shall preach once, at least, every year, on this subject. State Associations, auxiliary to the general Society, exist in Vermont, New Hampshire and New Jersey. In various places, the last anniversary of Independence was celebrated by some religious service, at the close of which contribution# were made in aid of the Colonization Society. Resolutions in its favour have been passed by the Legislatures of Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and New Jersey. The first mentioned State has made an appropriation for its benefit, from various useful articles in the Penitentiary, to the amount of SSOO. The Society have it in contemplation, as soon as practicable, to establish an Institu tion, after the plan of the school at Corn wall, in which young men of colour may be prepared, by suitable instruction in agricul ture, the arts, literature and religiou, for extensive usefulness in the Colony. They have recently sent out sixty eight emi grants ; and have secured to the Colony the services of a very able and respectable phy sician, who is expected < sail for Africa rn a few days. The receipts of the Society during the year ending March 23, 1825, amounted to $4,6G2. It is exceedingly de sirable that still greater funds should be placed at the disposal of the Directors for the year to come. Frorn the Religious Intelligencer. LETTER FROM DAVID BROWN. Through the kindness of a valued cor respondent, we are permitted to publish the following letter from David lrowo, tbe Cherokee preacher, to a friend in Fishkill, N. Y. dated, Talony , Cherokee Nation , Nov. 1 it, 1823. Dear Iriend , —Since I had the pleasure of seeing you, I have passed various and some very unpleasant scenes. My transi tion from one place to another has been the cause of my silence. Thus far the corres pondence that l held with my numerous friends has been almost suspended. No letters have I received from your pari of the world since my arrival in the Cherokee Nation. It is presumed, however, that my friends do not know where 1 am. I wist now to resume the pleasant correspondence formerly held with you and my friend in Fishkill. Be assured, that neither time or distance shall erase from r.iy bosom an af fectionate remembrance of the many kind offices and favours you had the goodness to bestow upon me when in your country. Since I left Andover my travels have been extensive through the wild and bowlmg for est. On both sides of the Mississippi have I travelled. I have just come a journey of six hundred tailes. l had to swim <ome riv ers on tbe way. I left Dwight in (he month ot (September last. The primary object of my visit to this country is to attend'he Na tional Council now in session it New Tewo, about thirty miles south of this place. The posture of National as well as Mis sionary affairs in (bis country is verv favour able, Equitable and wholesome laws are