p. 5

[Handwritten inscription in pencil, u.r.: 1279; illegible handwritten inscription in pencil, u.l.]

-1439- / 1871.

Went by steamboat "Henry Burden" ["Bu" inscription in black ink] to St. Augustine, arrived ["ed" inscription in black ink]
at 3P. M.; rambled through the narrow south-of-Europe-like streets,
on the fort, the sea wall, into the old church, &c., &c. [crossed out] and to other ["and to other" inscription in black ink]
places of interest ["places of interest inscription in black ink]
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__________

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St. Augustine, Fla., Jan 30, 1871.

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Dear Mary,

Today at 10 1/2 A. M., I am to commence my retrogres-
sive movements from this [most] ancient of North American. towns,
which is the most southerly point of my travel. The ride down the
St. John's river is not so pleasant as that above; more marshy
land, or islands; and the ["and the" inserted inscription in black ink] channels ["s" crossed out] crooked. &c. [crossed out]

Stopped one day at the place called Ship yard, near St.
John's Bluff, the very spot where the Frenchman ["Fr" inscription in black ink] Ribault (Rebo) ["Rebo" underlined]
commenced a settlement in 1572, three ["three" inscription in black ink] years before the settlement
of St. Augustine. The place belongs to Mrs. Kilbourne. * * * It is
a wonderful place to one from so far north, its shell banks, left
by the Indians a thousand years, perhaps, ago; its palmettos, its
orange, lemon and other sub-tropical trees, &c., &c. [crossed out]

On my way home I propose to stop in Washington a day,
to see what arrangements, if any, can be made with Gen. Meyer; and
perhaps will make Urbana a point in the route. * * *

We have had charming weather here during my visit, no use
for overcoat or shawl except on the steamboat while ["wh" inscription in black ink] at sea.

The shores in Florida are low, the sea was calm, and it
appeared much like a trip to Chicago in May ["M" inscription in black ink].

I have gathered some cabbage palmettos, saw palmettos and
air plants for Mr. Dunlop and hope to bring them with me in good