Sketch of the History of Key West, Florida

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. It is scarcely more than two weeks since I had the honor of being informed that, it was the pleasure of your Honor able body to have me deliver the address on this occasion; in compliance with the Proclamation of the President of the United States, issued in pursuance of a Resolution of Congress recommending that, the commemorative exercises of the day should be of a historical character. The shortness of the time, advanced age, impaired eye sight, to an extent which has seriously interfered for more than two years with my professional business, and more than all else, an unfeigned distrust of my ability to interest or instruct an audience, whose critical acumen and literary taste might lead them to expect much more than it is in my power to submit, might well lead me to hesitate about assuming the task. Indeed, gentlemen, I see before me now scores of citizens better qualified for the task, the advantage on my side lying only in a longer residence in your city than many others. But the invitation was in my View a work of distinction which no citizen, thus highly honored, could with propriety treat with indifference or neglect, and therefore I appear before you, prepared to discharge the duty assigned to me to the best of my ability.