In 1781, the Spanish captured Pensacola, and the English again lost possession of Florida. In 1784, the territory was once more formally ceded to Spain. In 1812, Fernandina capitulated to the troops of the United States, but was, during the following year, re-delivered to the Spanish Government. In 1814, the English forces, under the command of Colonel Nichols, entered and manned the forts of Pensacola, although the whole territory was nominally under the control of Spain; and in 1818, General Jackson attacked and captured Pensacola in behalf of the United States. In 1819, Florida was purchased by the United States, and was formally ceded by Spain. In 1822, a territorial government was established; in 1845, Florida was admitted into the Union, and in January, 1861, she seceded. In the language of the talented and lamented J. S. Adams: "What a picture does this brief abstract of the leading features in the history of Florida present! Discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1512; permanently settled in 1565; ceded to Great Britain in 1763, with a population of only six hundred, after a colonial existence of two hundred years; re-ceded to Spain in 1784; sold and ceded to the United States in 1819; receiving a territorial government in 1822; admitted to the Union in 1845; seceding in 1861; and reconstructed in 1868; sacked and pillaged repeatedly by Europeans; shifting its nationality from time to time, and losing almost its entire population by each change; harassed and plundered by repeated Indian wars from 1816 to 1858, and just as prosperity began to dawn, plunged unnecessarily into the useless slaughter of a hopeless rebellion, she has suffered every evil, political and social, that does not involve absolute extinction. Is it, then, a matter of surprise that Florida is so sparsely populated?" CHAPTER II. GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION AND BOUNDARIES OF FLORIDA--AREA AND POPULATION--INDIANS IN FLORIDA--CLIMATE, SOIL, AND PRODUCTIONS--THE RAINY SEASON--FLORIDA AS A HEALTH RESORT--CLASSIFICATION OF LANDS--SCHOOL SYSTEM AND CHURCHES--SWAMP LANDS SOLD TO DISSTON--RELIGION IN FLORIDA.