extensive stream of water, through the middle of which the boundary line runs.

The most remote piece of water on this frontier, worthy of notice, is Lake Superior; a collection of fresh water unequalled by any upon the face of the globe. Lake Superior is of a triangular form, in length 381, in breadth 161, and in circumference, 1152 miles. Among its several islands is one nearly two-thirds as large as the island of Jamaica; but neither its islands nor its shores can yet boast of inhabitants. Out of Lake Superior a very rapid current flows, over immense masses of rock, along a channel 27 miles in extent, called St. Mary's river, into Lake Huron; at the head of which is the British island of St. Joseph, containing a small garrison. This post is nearly 1700 miles from the lowest telegraph-station on the St. Lawrence, and about 2000 miles from its mouth.

Lake Huron is in length from west to east 218, in breadth 180, and in circumference, through its numerous curvatures, 812 miles. Except the island of St. Joseph, and one or two trading establishments belonging to the north-west company, the shores of this lake, also, are in a state of nature. Lake Michigan is connected with Lake Huron, at its western angle, by a short and wide strait; in the centre of which is the island of Michilimacinac, belonging to the United States. This island is about nine miles in circumference;

and, upon some very high ground, has a fort, in which a garrison is maintained. The distance from Michilimacinac to St. Joseph's is 47 miles.

Lake Michigan, which, in length from north to south, is 262, in breadth 55, and in circumference 731 miles, belongs wholly to the United States, the boundary line passing from Lake Superior, along the centre of Lake Huron, in a southerly direction, to the entrance of the river St. Clair. This river flows for 60 miles, till it expands into a small circular lake, about 30 miles in diameter, and named after itself. The beautiful river Thames, in Upper Canada, opens into Lake St. Clair; from which lake the stream, as the river Detroit, in width from one to three miles, and navigable for vessels drawing not more than 14 feet water, pursues a course of 40 miles into Lake Erie.

Upon the western side of the river Detroit, is situate the American town of that name; containing about 200 houses, and, among its public buildings, a strong fort and military works. About three miles below Fort-Detroit, upon the opposite side of the river, is the British village of Sandwich, containing about 40 houses; and, 16 miles lower, and within three of the mouth. of the river, is the British village of Amberstburg, containing about 100 houses, and a fort, where a small garrison is usually stationed, and where our principal vessels for the service of Lake

Erie were built. The distance from Quebec to Amherstburg, by the nearest rout, is 1207 miles. The American village of Brownstown, stands opposite to the latter.

Lake Erie, from its south-west end; is in length 231, in breadth 64, and in circumference 658 miles. Its greatest depth of water is between 40 and 45 fathoms; but a very rocky bottom renders the anchorage unsafe in blowing weather. Except Amherstburg, the British have no harbor or naval depôt upon Lake Erie; while the Americans have two or three excellent ones. Presqúile harbor is situate on the southern side of the lake, not far from the entrance to the Niagara. It is a safe station, but has a sevenfeet bar at its entrance; as, indeed, have all the other harbors on this lake. The town, named Erie, is situate on the south side of the harbor, and contains about 200 houses, besides several storehouses, and a dock-yard, at which the Americans built their Lake Erie fleet. To the eastward of the town stands a strong battery; and, on the point of the peninsula forming the harbor, a block-house, for the protection of this naval depôt. The Americans have also a strong battery and a block-house at the mouth of another harbor, named Put-in-Bay, situate at the opposite end of the lake. Most of these works have been constructed since the commencement of the war. The rivers Raisin,

Sandusky, and Miami, the scenes of important operations during the war, discharge themselves into Lake Erie.

On the north-western side of the entrance to the Niagara river, stands, at a distance of 565 miles from Quebec, the British Fort Erie; when the war commenced, without a cannon mounted upon it, and, at best, a very inconsiderable work; as may be conceived, when an American general can declare that, in July 1814, it "was in a defenceless condition.”* The word fort, is, indeed, very vaguely applied throughout the British provinces, the Canadians usually calling by that name any building surrounded by a palisade, as a protection from the Indians; although not a cannon, perhaps, was ever seen within miles of the spot. Near to the same outlet from Lake Erie is Buffaloe creek, on the border of which stands the American village of Buffaloe, and beyond it, about two miles, Black Rock, where there is a battery, and a ferry, about 800 yards across, to Bertie in Upper Canada.

The Niagara proceeds, at a quick rate, past several small, and one large island, called Grand isle, ten miles long; about two miles below which, on the American side, and distant two miles from the falls, is the site of Fort-Schlosser. At about the same distance from the

* Wilkinson's Memoirs, Vol. I, p. 647. + See Plate I..

falls, on the opposite side, standing on the northern bank of the river Chippeway, is the British village of the same name, distant from Fort-Erie 17 miles. Chippeway consists chiefly of store-houses; and near it is a small stockaded work, called Fort-Chippeway. At the distance of 23 miles from the entrance to the Niagara, is Goat-island, about half a mile long; and which extends to the precipice that gives rise to the celebrated falls. The larger body of water flows between Upper Canada and Goat-island; at the upper end of which the broken water, or rapids, commence. Here the stream passes on both sides of the island, over a bed of rocks and precipices, with astonishing rapidity; till, having descended more than 50 feet, in the distance of half a mile, it falls, on the British side 157, and on the New York side 162, feet perpendicular.*

From the cataract the river is a continued rapid, half a mile in width, for about seven miles. At this point stand, opposite to each other, the villages of Queenstown and Lewistown.* The latter, situate upon the American side, contained, till destroyed as a retaliatory measure, between 40 and 50 houses; the former has still remaining about 15 houses, with stores for government, barracks, wharf, &c. About three miles from Queenstown, upon the banks of a

* See Plate I.