the most southerly province of the British empire in America before the last war, bounded on the south by the Gulf of Mexico, on the north by the Appalachian mountains, on the east by the province of Georgia, and on the west by the river Mississippi. It was first discovered, in 1497, by Sebastian Cabot, a Venetian, then in the English service; whence a right to the country was claimed by the kings of England; and this province, as well as Georgia, were included in the charter granted by Charles II. to Carolina. In 1512, however, Florida was more fully discovered by Ponce de Leon, an able Spanish navigator, but who undertook his voyage from the most absurd motives that can be well imagined.—The Indians of the Caribbee islands had among them a tradition, that somewhere on the continent there was a fountain whose waters had the property of restoring youth to all old men who tasted them. The romantic imaginations of the Spaniards were delighted with this idea. Many embarked in voyages to find out this imaginary fountain, who were never afterwards heard of. Their superstitious countrymen never imagined that these people had perished. They concluded that they did not return, only because they had drunk of the immortalizing liquor, and had discovered a spot so delightful, that they did not choose to leave it.—Ponce de Leon set out with this extravagant view as well as others, and fully persuaded of the existence of a third world, the conquest of which was to immortalize his name. In the attempt to discover this country, he rediscovered Florida; but returned to the place from whence he came, visibly more advanced in years than when he set out.—For some time this country was neglected by the Spaniards, and some Frenchmen settled in it. But the new colony being neglected by the ministry, and Philip II. of Spain having accustomed himself to think that he was the sole proprietor of America, fitted out a fleet at Cadiz to destroy them. His orders were executed with barbarity. The French entrenchments were forced, and most of the people killed. The prisoners were hanged on trees; with this inscription, "Not as Frenchmen, but as Heretics."

This cruelty was soon after revenged by Dominic de Gourgues, a skilful and intrepid seaman of Gacony, an enemy to the Spaniards, and passionately fond of hazardous expeditions and of glory. He sold his estate; built some ships; and with a select band of adventurers like like himself, embarked for Florida. He drove the Spaniards from all their posts with incredible valour and activity; defeated them in every encounter; and, by way of retaliation, hung the prisoners on trees, with this inscription, "Not as Spaniards, but as Assassins." This expedition was attended with no other consequences: Gourgues blew up the forts he had taken, and returned home, where no notice was taken of him. It was conquered in 1539, by the Spaniards under Ferdinand de Soto, not without a great deal of bloodshed; as the natives were very warlike, and made a vigorous resistance. The settlement, however, was not fully established till the year 1665; when the town of St Augustine, the capital of the colony while it remained in the hands of the Spaniards, was founded. In 1586, this place was taken and pillaged by Sir Francis Drake. It met with the same fate in 1665, being taken and plundered by Captain Davis and a body of buccaneers. In 1702, an attempt was made upon it by Colonel More, governor of Carolina. He set out with 500 English and 700 Indians; and having reached St Augustine, he besieged it for three months; at the expiration of which, the Spaniards having sent some ships to the relief of the place, he was obliged to retire. In 1740, another attempt was made by General Oglethorpe: but he being outwitted by the Spanish governor, was forced to raise the siege with 1,483; and Florida continued in the hands of the Spaniards till the year 1763, when it was ceded by treaty to Great Britain.—During the last war it was again reduced by his Catholic majesty, and was guaranteed to the crown of Spain at the peace.