So that the Mississippi and its branches water considerably more than two-thirds of the United States territory; a great portion of it being still unsettled, and probably the finest land in the world.

The United States seem to have been formed by nature for the most intimate union; no part of the world being so well watered with springs, rivers, rivulets, and lakes. By means of these various streams and bodies of water, the whole country is chequered into islands and peninsulas.-The facilities of navigation render the communication between the ports of Georgia and New Hampshire far more expeditious and practicable, than between those of Provence and Picardy in France, Gallicia and Catalonia in Spain, or Cornwall and Caithness in Great Britian.-The canals opening between the Rivers Susquehanna and Delaware, between Pasquetank and Elizabeth Rivers in Virginia, and between the Schuylkill and Susquehanna, will form a communication from the Carolinas to the western counties of of Pennsylvania, and New York.-The improvement of the River Potomac will give a passage from the southern states to the western parts of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and even to the great northern lakes. -From the Town of Detroit, on Lake Erie, to Alex. andria in the district of Columbia, a distance of 560 miles, are only two carrying places, which together do not exceed forty miles.-The canals of Delaware and Chesapeak will open the navigation from South Carolina to New Jersey; Delaware, the most populous parts of Pennsylvania, and the midland counties of New York.Other canals are also now cutting in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and one between Ashley and Cooper Rivers in South Carolina. After what has been done the last twenty years, it cannot be venturous to predict, that thirty years more will not elapse before a water communication will extend from Lake Erie to New Orleans.

There is nothing in other parts of the globe, which resembles the prodigious chain of lakes in North America. -They may properly be termed inland seas of fresh water,

for even those of the second or third class in magnitude are of greater circuit than the largest lake in the eastern continent. The nine great lakes to be described in this place, are, the Lake-of-the-Woods, Long Lake, Lakes Superior, Huron, St. Clair, Erie, Ontario, Champlain, and Michigan; through the first eight of these is drawn the boundary line which separates the United States from the British provinces: the last lies entirely within the territory of the United States.-The lakes of minor importance will be noticed in the description of the states to which they respectively belong.

The Lake-of-the-Woods, so called from a large quantity of wood growing on its banks, lies in 49 deg. 37 min. north lat. and 94 deg. 51 min. west long. from London. This lake forms the communication between Lakes Winnipeck, Bourbon, and Superior, and is the source of one branch of the River Bourbon. Its length from east to west is about seventy miles, and in some places it is forty miles wide. The Killistinoe Indians encamp on its borders to fish and to pursue game.

Long Lake lies east of the Lake-of-the-Woods, and is nearly a hundred miles long, and in no part more than twenty miles wide. Eastward of this lake lie several small ones, which extend in a line to the great carrying place, and thence into Lake Superior. Between these little Lakes are several portages, which render the trade to the north-west very difficult, and exceedingly tedious; as it requires no less than two years to perform one voyage from Michilimackinac, on Lake Erie, to these parts.

Lake Superior is so named from its vast magnitude, being upwards of 1500 miles in circumference, and is supposed to be the greatest body of fresh water in the world. A considerable part of the coast is bounded by rocks and broken ground, and the water of the lake, which is pure and transparent, appears to lie upon a bed of huge rocks. From the most accurate observations yet made, the situation of this lake lies between 46 deg. and NO. 2

E

50 deg. north lat. and between 9 deg. and 16 deg. west long. from Washington. It contains many large islands, two of which have each land enough, if proper for cultivation, to form a considerable province; especially Isle Royal, which is not less than a hundred miles long, and in many places forty broad.-Storms affect this lake as much as they do the Atlantic Ocean; the waves run as high, and the navigation is equally dangerous. It discharges its waters from the south-east corner through the Straits of St. Mary, as already noticed, page 18; but though it is supplied by near forty rivers, many of which are large, yet it does not appear that one-tenth part of the waters conveyed into it by these rivers is discharged by the above-mentioned strait.

Lake Huron, into which you enter by the Straits of St. Mary, is next in magnitude to Lake Superior. It lies between 42 deg. and 46 deg. north lat. and between 4 deg. and 8 deg. west long. in shape it is nearly triangular, and its circumference about 1000 miles. On the north side of this lake is an island 100 miles in length, and no more than eight in breadth; it is called Monataulin, signifying a place of spirits, and is considered as sacred by the native Indians. About the middle of the south-west side of the lake is Saganaum Bay, about eighty miles in length, and twenty broad. Thunder Bay, so called from the continual thunder heard there, lies about half-way between Saganaum Bay, and the northwest corner of the lake: it is about nine miles across either way.

Lake St. Clair lies about half way between Lakes Huron and Erie, and is about ninety miles in circumference. It receives the waters of the three great Lakes, Superior, Michigan, and Huron, and discharges them through the River or Strait called Detroit, as before observed, into Lake Erie. It is of a circular form, and navigable for large vessels, except a bar of sand towards the middle, which prevents loaded vessels from passing. The cargoes of such as are freighted must be taken out, carried across the bar in boats, and re-shipped.

Lake Erie is situated between 41 deg. and 43 deg. north lat. and between 3 deg. and 6 deg. west lon. It is nearly 300 miles long; opposite Cleveland, in the state of Ohio, it is about sixty miles broad, to the eastward it is above seventy. The average breadth is from fifty to sixty miles; and its medium depth forty to 120 feet. The water is pure and wholesome, and abounds with fish such as sturgeon, white fish, trout, perch, &c. The lake does not freeze in the middle, but is frequently frozen on both sides; and sometimes in winter, when the wind is variable, the ice exhibits a singular phenomenon ; a south wind blows it all to the Canada shore, and a north wind again dislodges it, and brings it back to the American side. There are a number of islands in the west end of the lake, containing from 800 to 2000 acres of land, and the scenery amongst them is charming; but all these islands are so dreadfully infested with serpents, and on some of them rattle-snakes are so numerous, that in the height of summer it is really dangerous to land. This and the other lakes are navigated by vessels of from seventy to eighty tons, which carry goods as far as the head of Lake Superior, and bring back furs and peltry. The navigation is good through the whole distance, except in Lake St. Clair, where the water is shallow, and vessels are sometimes obliged to lighten. The principal ports on the American side of Lake Erie are Michiliackinac, Detroit, Miami, Sandusky, Cayahoga, Grand River, Presque Isle, and Buffalo. On the British side, Malden, Moyes, Sandwich, and St. Joseph's. Lake Ontario is situated between 43 deg. 45 min. of north lat. and O deg. and 3 deg. west lon. It is about 200 miles in length and 40 in width; its form nearly oval, and its circumference about 600 miles. It abounds with fish of an excellent flavour, among which are the Oswego bass, weighing three or four pounds. Near the south-east part it receives the waters of the Oswego River, and on the north-east it discharges itself into the River Cataraque, or now as it is properly called Iroquois. This

river at Kingston, takes the name of St. Lawrence, as described in page 20.

Lake Champlain lies between the states of New York and Vermont, and communicates with Lower Canada by the River Sorel, which falls into the River St. Lawrence forty-five miles below Montreal. It is about 120 miles in length, and of various breadths: for the first thirty miles, that is, from South River to Crown Point, it is no where above two miles wide; beyond this, for the distance of twelve miles, it is five or six miles across, it then narrows, and again at the end of a few miles, expands. That part called the Broad Lake (because broader than any other) commences about twenty-five miles north of Crown Point, and is eighteen miles across in the widest part. Here the lake is interspersed with a great number of islands, the largest of which, named South Hero, is fifteen miles in length, and averages four in breadth. The soil of this island is very fertile, and more than 700 people are settled upon it. The Broad Lake is nearly fifty miles in length, and gradually narrows till it terminates in the River Sorel. Lake Champlain, except the narrow parts at either end, is in general very deep; in many places sixty and seventy, and in some even 100, fathoms.

Lake Michigan is 270 miles long by 70 broad. The navigation of this lake is good; but its connection with Lake Huron, by the straits of Michilimackinac, is shallow and difficult. Lake Michigan penetrates the state of Indiana, and near its southern extremity receives the River Calumet, and a little from its south-east end, the small River St. Joseph enters from the same state, but falls into this lake lower down in Michigan territory. The most considerable bays on the east side of this lake are those of Sable and Grand Traverse: the last is about twelve miles long and four or five broad. There are no settlements of whites of any considerable consequence yet formed upon either of its banks or tributary rivers. Most of the lands that border this fine lake are still the property of the native Indians.