province of North America, bounded on the south by the gulf of Mexico, on the north by Georgia and Alabama, on the east by the sea, and on the west by Alabama. 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, was included in the charter granted by Charles II. to Carolina. Florida. 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. Ponce de Leon, who set out with this extravagant view as well as others, re-discovered 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 by orders of Philip II. of Spain, a force was fitted out; the French intrenchments 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 Dominie de Gourgues, a skilful and intrepid seaman of Gascony, 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 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 1565; 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 bucaniers. In 1702, an attempt was made upon it by Colonel More, governor of Carolina. He set out with 300 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 loss; and Florida continued in the hands of the Spaniards till the year 1763, when it was ceded by treaty to Great Britain.—During the American war, which terminated in 1783, it was again reduced by his Catholic majesty, and it remained subject to Spain till 1818, when General Jackson alleging that support had been given by the Spaniards to some hostile Indian tribes, seized Pensacola and St Marks, the only fortified posts in the country except St Augustine. The province was since ceded by treaty to the United States, and the treaty after much delay has at length been ratified (1821.)

Florida is about 400 miles in length, from north to south, and occupies an area of about 50,000 square miles. The country is in general flat, and without hills. The soil is good, but overrun with pines and brushwood. The climate is considered better than that of the neighbouring state of Georgia. The whole white inhabitants and slaves probably do not exceed 12,000 or 15,000. See Florida, Supplement.