Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/470

 45? APPENDIX.

count of, our own paflive conduct, the Mufkohge will not allow the in> habitants of Georgia to drive cattle to thofe places for the ufe of the fol- diers. Neither can the northern merchant-men fupply them with falr-and frelh provifions, but at a. very unequal hazard; for the gulph ftream would oblige them to fail along the Cuba more, where they would be likely to be feized by the Spanim guarda coftas, as have many fine American vefiels on the falfe pretence of fmuggling, and which, by a ftrange kind cf policy, they have been allowed to keep as legal prizes. In brief, unlefs Great Britain enlarges both Eaft and Weft Florida to a proper extent* and adopts other encouraging meafures,, for raifing thofe ftaple commo dities which me purchafes from foreigners, the fagacious public muft be convinced, that the opportunity of adding to her annual expences, by pay ing troops, and maintaining garrifons, to guard a narrow flip of barren fand-hills, and a tract of low grave-yards, is not an equivalent for thofe va- : luable improved iflands our enemies .received in exchange for them.

We will now proceed to the Mifilfippi, and that great extent of territory, which Great Britain alfo owns by exchange ; and mew the quality of thofe lands, and how far they may .really benefit her, by active and prudent ma nagement. As in Florida, ,fo to. a great diftance from the more of the gulph, the lands generally confift of burning fand, and are uninhabitable, or of wet ground, and very unhealthy. But, a little beyond this dreary defarr y are many level fpots very fertile, and which would fuit people who are ufed to a low fituation, and prove very valuable, both to planters, and the inha bitants of a trading town. As the river runs from., north to foutb, the air- is exceedingly pure in the. high lands of this extenfive trad. The foil is. generally very rich ; and, to the diftance of fix hundred miles up, from the. low lands of the fea. coaft, it is as happy a climate as any under heaven, quite free from the extremities of heat and cold.-. Any product of the fame clime from 31 to 45 degrees N. L. might be raifedhere in the greateft perfection, ,.to the great profit of the planter and the public. Many thou- fands of us would heartily rejoice to fee adminiftration behave as wife men leave their mean, or mad policy, and promote a fpirit of emigration among, the families of the crowded northern colonies. Thus the induftrious poor, in Britain, would find more employ in manufactures ; and. the public woukL receive from their brethren, what they now purchafe chiefly from rivaL powers with gold and filver, with the balance of trade greatly againft them.

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