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Domestic News
January 18, 1765
The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle
Portsmouth, Greenland, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
Letter from Augustine portrays East-Florida as an unpromising sandy desert where cattle struggle, provisions are expensive imports from northern colonies like New-England cheese at 16s. per pound, and living is difficult on 60l. per annum salary. Writer exchanged it for Martinico and plans to return home in December.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Extract of a Letter from Augustine.
Believe me, the English Papers have greatly exaggerated in their favourable Accounts of this Place. I never saw in my Life a more unpromising Spot, though I have been a Sojourner in both the Indies. The whole Province of East-Florida is little better than a sandy Desert, parched and dry; the very Cattle can hardly subsist. God knows how we should live here, if Provisions were not brought us from the Northern Colonies: New-England Cheese at 16s. per Pound; Butter, or rather putrified Oil, at a vast Price, and every thing dear in proportion. Our common Currency are Spanish Piastres and Dollars, the latter of which does just purchase a Dinner, notwithstanding, if it were not for some Turtle from Providence and the Mosquito Shore, we should hardly be said to eat; judge then, if out of my 60l. per Annum I can save Money. Such is the Place we have wisely exchanged for the Terrestrial Paradise of Martinico. I shall be home in December next. Adieu.
Believe me, the English Papers have greatly exaggerated in their favourable Accounts of this Place. I never saw in my Life a more unpromising Spot, though I have been a Sojourner in both the Indies. The whole Province of East-Florida is little better than a sandy Desert, parched and dry; the very Cattle can hardly subsist. God knows how we should live here, if Provisions were not brought us from the Northern Colonies: New-England Cheese at 16s. per Pound; Butter, or rather putrified Oil, at a vast Price, and every thing dear in proportion. Our common Currency are Spanish Piastres and Dollars, the latter of which does just purchase a Dinner, notwithstanding, if it were not for some Turtle from Providence and the Mosquito Shore, we should hardly be said to eat; judge then, if out of my 60l. per Annum I can save Money. Such is the Place we have wisely exchanged for the Terrestrial Paradise of Martinico. I shall be home in December next. Adieu.
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic
What keywords are associated?
East Florida
Economic Distress
High Prices
Provisions Import
Sandy Desert
Where did it happen?
East Florida
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
East Florida
Event Details
The province is described as a sandy desert where provisions are imported at high prices from northern colonies, currency is Spanish Piastres and Dollars, and living is difficult on 60l. per annum; exchanged for Martinico, writer returning home in December next.