The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

NEW-YORK, March 10.

Extract of a letter from a gentleman in St. Augustine, East-Florida, to his friend in Alexandria, Jan. 12.

"Our vessels are received with the greatest cordiality by the Spaniards. Governor Zéblades, pays the greatest attention to every American who comes properly recommended; & the friendly treatment our countrymen receive from the officers of the Irish brigade stationed in this town, must lay every American under the greatest obligations, to these hospitable sons of Hibernia. Flour and all kind of provisions from the United States find a good market here, the commerce in the above articles being entirely free. This indulgence we owe to the uncultivated state of this province; for St. Augustine, the garrisons on St. John's and St. Mary's, are the only inhabited parts of East-Florida, and these are occupied by men of the military professions, who raise nothing except money, the whole of which is laid out in American produce. Since my arrival here I had the satisfaction of conversing with the famous Alexander M'Gillivray, whose name you have seen in our public prints---this interview has fully convinced me, that he really is the man, our papers sometimes represent him to be, and that his neighbours the Georgians, have much to fear from his penetrating genius and great address. The attention paid him by the Spaniards, seems to have something more than common politeness in view---they tell me he holds a General's commission under the crown of Spain; this I have reason to believe as I have seen him in the Spanish uniform at the Governor's table, and receive the military honors of the garrison. This is a policy for which they are not to blame, as M'Gillivray's connections, from his infancy up to this day, with the different Indian nations in the southern part of America, has established him the Supreme Legislator over their countries. The Spaniards but indifferently established in this quarter, and sensible of his power, dread his consequences. A new treaty has lately been established between them and M'Gillivray, as King of the Creek nation, by which it is stipulated, that the navigation of that part of the Gulph of Mexico, on which St. Mark (an old abandoned fort) is situated, shall be free for vessels belonging to the said nation, agreeable to this article, M'Gillivray in connection with some of the most respectable merchants, on the island of Providence, has actually established
ware-houses, at St. Mark. in West-Florida; from whence he carries on an extensive and most profitable trade with the Indians and even our white settlements on the western waters. Thus you see! An individual with no other than savage connections; has concluded a treaty of navigation, which the exertion and wisdom of Congress never yet could obtain."