(seq. 343)

East Florida

all day long, or at least to have them shut before Sun-set, thereby not only,
to enjoy the free Air, but also to keep out of the Houses both Sand-flies and
Muskitoes during Evening Conversation before Bed time, at which the
Blinds are to be opened, and the Shutters, and Doors to be shut. Least
this Advice should alarm any Person, and five cause to suspect, as if the
Night Airs were unwholeseome, as it is in the I. II. and III Climates both NOrth
and South of the AEquator; to the contrary: I must observe, and can from
my own Experience warrant the Night's Airs in the IIII Climate, viz in East
Florida, as far South as Cape Florida, to be the most inoffensive, least
dangerous, and most healthy in the [?] Universe, as far as I have been,
from the 26th degree of East Longitude to the 83d degree West Longitude from
the Meridian of London; and from the 55th to the 25th North Latitude,
a Difference of Eight Climates on the North side of the AEquator. I can
assure, that myself, and People with me, have slept many Nights in the
Woods, and on the Sea Coast (when on my General Suverys), never any of
us felt the least Inconvenience, so that I can advise the Inhabitants to
choose the outside of their Houses for their Night's Rest in order to enjoy the
Benefit of the Air, proved tempestuous Weather will not prevent them, and
provided also, they hang their Pavilions on a Branch of a Tree and spread it
over their Beds; for keeping of the Muskitoes and Sand-flies. Altho' they
lay now in the free Air, yet this AIr has not, as in Houses, a Draught over,
but surrounds them; a Draught of Air and its Effect can be conpared to a
Brasier's blowing through a soldering Pipe, which little Draught incensed
by the Flame of the Lamp will smelt a Piece of Metal in a few seconds, which
the quiet Flame will not effect even in many years. This Paragraph
should have been the nineteenth in lieu of the twentieth, but as, in new plan=
=tations the clearing of Land, and planting what is necessary for Provision,
is the first thing to be undertaken, the Planters build Tenets of Bushes and
cover them with Earth, or live in Canvas Tents, until they have secured their
Crop, and make the Construction of their Barns the next, and their Houses
the latter Object.

21. Beside the above, Advices and Instructions, it will not be super=
=fluous in hinting to new Settlers, that probably they will meet at their arrival
with Persons in the Southern (the only vacant) Part of East Florida; or
in other more Northern Parts, if they should touch any, who will endeavour
to prepossess their Minds with many Prejudices in regard to Climate, Soil,
Insects, Wild Beasts, Tempests, Indian, French and Spamish Wars: To
this I can with Truth observe, that no Person beside those in my Service
in