Aury had, in fact, been the first governor of Texas under the Mexican Republic, and now claimed Amelia Island for Mexico, although he was really only claiming it as a base for piracy. And for Spanish slave traders smuggling slaves into Georgia. And as a refuge for runaway slaves from Georgia. And as a refuge for Seminoles who raided settlers in Georgia then crossed the border back into Spanish Florida. It was an all-purpose haven.
What he did not say, however, was that Amelia Island was a "festering fleshpot." And that's really the point of this piece. In the past 50 years, James Monroe has been credited with that phrase in scores of travel magazines, newspapers, on refrigerator magnets and t-shirts, and twice daily on boat tours that leave from Fernandina Beach. But the phrase appears nowhere in his extant writings, speeches or letters.
And so it goes, to the present day.
Great article! I own the tour boat you mentioned and one of my captains uses the phrase on his tours and sells the t shirts emblazoned with said phrase. It's nice to know its origin. In the future he should no longer credit James Monroe. It would be more correct to simply say the town has been referred to as a Festering Fleshpot.