United States, General Jackson again took possession of the city, and obliged the Spanish Governor, who had taken refuge in Fort Barrancas, to surrender that work. In 1821 Pensacola became a city of the Union by the purchase of Florida. In January, 1861, after the secession of Florida from the Union, the State troops took possession of the navy yard, Forts Barrancas and McRea, and the other Government property. The United States forces, under Lieutenant Slemmer, occupied Fort Pickens, on Santa Rosa Island, and held it until reinforced. The Southern forces at once laid siege to Fort Pickens, which was also defended by a naval force. The siege of this fort, and the blockade of Pensacola, lasted during the greater portion of the civil war.

ST. AUGUSTINE

Is situated in St. John's county, on the north shore of Matanzas Sound, 2 miles from the Atlantic, from which it is separated by Anastasia Island. It is 200 miles east by south from Tallahassee. It possesses but little trade, although its harbor is safe and large. Large ships cannot enter it, however, as there is but 9 or 10 feet of water on the bar. It is reached by steamer from Jacksonville. It contains the county buildings, several churches and schools, and 1 newspaper office. In 1870 the population was 1717.

St. Augustine is the oldest town in the United States, and one of the most interesting. It was settled by the Spaniards in 1564. The site was originally a shell hummock, scarcely 12 feet higher than the surface of the sea. The town formerly stood in a grove of orange trees, but in 1834 a great frost destroyed these. Frost, however, is very rare in this part of Florida. Many winters pass without the slightest mark of it, and snow is almost unknown.

"St. Augustine is built along the seaward side of a narrow ridge of land, situated between a salt marsh and estuary half a mile from the beach, two miles from the ocean, in sight of the bar and lighthouse, and in hearing of the surf. The soil is sandy loam and decomposed shell, and is very productive. Approaching by a bridge and crossing the St. Sebastian River and marsh, the stranger enters a wellshaded avenue, flanked by gardens and orange-groves, which leads directly to the centre of the quaint old city. Here is the public square, a neat enclosure of some two acres, facing which, on either side, stand the Court House, the market and wharf, the Protestant Episcopal Church—a plain building, in the pointed style, handsomely

furnished-and, immediately opposite, the venerable Roman Catholic Church, a striking edifice of seemingly great antiquity, but built only about eighty years ago. It is of the periwig pattern, and in the worst possible taste. One of its bells bears date 1682. Connected with this church is a small convent and school. A minute's walk brings us to the sea-wall or breakwater, a broad line of massive masonry, built about 1840 by order of Government, at great cost, for the protection of the city, but whose chief use is that of affording to the inhabitants the pleasantest promenade in fine weather. This wall extends half a mile southward to the now deserted barracks and magazine, and as far northward as Fort Marion (formerly Castle of St. Mark), a picturesque and decayed fortress, which once commanded the whole harbor, looming up out of the flat landscape, grand as a Moorish castle, and forming the most conspicuous and interesting relic of the Spanish occupation. Parallel to this sea-wall, run north and south, with short intersections, the three principal streets or lanes, long, narrow, without pavement or sidewalk, irregularly built up with 'dumpy' but substantial houses, rather dingy and antediluvian, mostly of stone, or with the lower stories stone and the upper of wood. They have invariably the chimneys outside, and are ornamented with projecting balconies and latticed verandahs, from which the gay paint has long since faded, being all toned and weather-stained into one sombre gray hue, which, in keeping with the surroundings, is the joint result of age, neglect, sun, and saline air. Every house is separated from its neighbor by more or less of garden plot, ill protected by broken fence and crumbling wall, wherein they raise two or more crops of vegetables every year, figs in perfection, and roses in unmeasured abundance. St. Augustine is sometimes styled the Ancient City.' Its appearance is in strict keeping with its venerable age, seen in the unequivocal marks of decay or decrepitation. Perhaps the friable nature of the common building material contributes to this ruinous appearance, all the older houses being constructed of a stratified concrete of minute shell and sand called 'coquina,' in blocks conveniently obtained, and easily worked, hardening by exposure, but abrading and crumbling in course of time. Coquina houses are invariably dark, and always damp in winter, on which account frame dwellings, though not so cool, for summer houses, are much preferred by the innovating Yankees. But the Minorcan, or sub-Spanish population, still adhere to their traditions, and refuse to be reformed. They build for the summer time—the longest season. Northerners seeking in Florida a

mild climate generally prefer St. Augustine; and with the best reason. The proximity of the Gulf Stream renders it warmer in winter and cooler in summer than the settlements on the St. John's River. It is at present the most southern habitable place on the eastern coast; and it has peculiar advantages over all other towns in East Florida— in its churches, its company, and its comforts. Good society may be always had there; the citizens are hospitable, and among the visitors. are always some agreeable persons, cultivated and distinguished. Visitors begin to arrive about the holidays. From the middle of March to the middle of April is the height of the season, and then the hotels are crowded. Deliciously fresh and mild is the atmosphere during the first spring heats. Then the soft south wind fills the senses with a voluptuous languor, and the evening land breeze comes laden with the fragrance of orange-blossoms and the breath of roses. A moonlight walk upon the sea-wall suggests the Mediterranean, and the allusion is heightened by the accents of a foreign tongue. The effect of these happy climatic and social conditions is very noticeable. The most morose tempers seem to lose their acerbity, and even the despairing invalid catches the contagion of cheerfulness. Two-thirds of the population of St. Augustine are of Spanish origin, and still speak the Spanish language. The women are pretty, modest, dark-eyed brunettes; dress neatly in gay colors, are skilful at needle-work, and good housewives. The men exhibit equally characteristic traits of race and nationality. The people are generally poor. There are no

manufactures. The town produces little, and exports nothing-its chief support, since the loss of its orange-groves, being derived from Government offices, and receipts from strangers. It has one saw-mill, rarely running."

KEY WEST CITY,

In Monroe county, in the most populous town in the State. It is situated on the island of Key West, about 60 miles southwest of Cape Table, latitude 24° 33′ N.; longitude 81° 40′ W. It is a well-built town, of nearly 700 houses. The streets are 50 feet wide and cross each other at right-angles. It contains 4 churches, 5 schools, and a fine Marine Hospital belonging to the United States.

About 30,000 bushels of salt are made annually at Key West by solar evaporation. Large quantities of sponges, turtles, and fish are exported to the Atlantic cities. The principal business of the place, however, is wrecking. About forty-five or fifty vessels are annually wrecked in the vicinity of the island, and the inhabitants derive an annual profit of about $200,000 from the salvages and other perquisites of these vessels. This business is conducted under equitable and strict laws, and is of benefit to ship-owners as well as to the islanders.

Key West was first settled in 1822. It is one of the most important military stations of the United States, as it is the key to the Florida Pass and the Gulf of Mexico. The harbor is large and safe, and will admit vessels drawing 22 feet of water. Its entrance is defended by Fort Taylor, a powerful work. The steamers from Charleston and New York touch at this port once a week, and furnish the only regular communication with the mainland. In 1870 the population was 5000.

THE State of Alabama is situated between 30° 10' and 35° N. latitude, and between 85° and 88° 30′ W. longitude. It is bounded on the north by Tennessee, on the east by Georgia, on the south by Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, and on the west by Mississippi.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The northeast part of this State is occupied by the southwest end of the Alleghany Mountains, which terminate here. They gradually sink down into a fine rolling country, which covers the whole surface of the State to within sixty miles of the Gulf, where it becomes level.

The principal rivers are the Alabama, Tennessee, Tombigbee, Black Warrior, and Coosa. The Perdido separates the State from Florida in the southeast, and the Choctawhatchie, Pea, Yellow, Connecuh, and Escambia rivers rise in the southern part of the State, and flow south into Florida.

The Alabama River, the most important stream in the State, is formed by the Coosa and Tallapoosa, which unite about 10 miles above Montgomery. It flows in a generally southwest direction, and empties through Mobile Bay into the Gulf of Mexico. About 45 miles above Mobile, it is joined by the Tombigbee. Below this, it is called the Mobile River. It is navigable at all seasons for firstclass steamers. The Tallapoosa is navigable for a short distance, and the Coosa for about 160 miles. The length of the main stream is