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 in considerable 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.

stream, called the Four-mile creek, where it crosses the road leading to the head of Lake Ontario, is the village of St. David's; which contains, or rather did contain till visited by the Americans, about 40 houses. At about six miles and a half from Queenstown, near to the river side, stands the British Fort-George,* constructed of earthern ramparts, and palisades of dry cedar, to which a lighted candle would set fire. mounted, when the war commenced, no heavier metal than 9-pounders, and those condemned for being honey-combed. About half a mile below Fort-George, and close to the borders of Lake Ontario, is the site of the once beautiful, once flourishing village of Newark.*

It

Directly opposite to Newark, upon a neck of land projecting partly across the mouth of the river, which is here 875 yards in width, stands the American fort of Niagara.* It was built by the French in 1751; taken by us in 1759; and, along with several other frontier-posts, ceded to the United States in 1794: and, though again taken, has again been ceded to the same power. FortNiagara, unlike any of the Canadian forts along that frontier, is a regular fortification, built of stone, on the land-side, with breast-works, and every necessary appendage. It mounts between 20 and 30 heavy pieces of ordnance, and contains a furnace for heating shot.

*See Plate I.

The strait of Niagara is about 36 miles in length; and its shores, on both sides, were, more or less, the scenes of active warfare during the whole period of hostilities. Lake Ontario, to which the strait leads, is in length, from west to east, 171, in breadth 50, and in circumference 467 miles. The depth of water varies much; it being in some places three or four, in other 50 fathoms: towards the centre 300 fathoms of line have, it is said, not found the bottom. York harbor lies on the north-side of Lake Ontario; is nearly circular, of about a mile and a half in diameter, and formed by a narrow peninsula extending to Gibraltar-point, upon which a block-house has been erected. The town, which is the infant capital of Upper Canada, is in lat. 43° 30′ north, and long. 79° 20' west, distant from Fort-Niagara, by water 30, and by land about 90 miles. The plot of ground marked out for it extends about a mile and a half along the northside of the harbor; but, at present, the number of houses, a very few of which are of brick or stone, does not exceed 300. The public buildings consist of a government-house, the house of assembly, a church, court-house, and a gaol, with numerous stores belonging to government. The barracks are situate at the distance of two miles to the westward of the town, and are protected by a small battery and two block-houses; which also serve, aided by the block-house at

Gibraltar-point, to defend the entrance of the harbor.

Kingston-harbor is situate at the eastern extremity of Lake Ontario. It contains good anchorage in three fathoms water; and is defended by a small battery of 9-pounders on Mississaga-point, and another, of the same metal chiefly, on Point Frederick. The town, which is the largest and most populous in the upper province, contains about 370 houses; including several buildings and stores belonging to government, Its distance from York is 145, from Montreal, in an opposite direction, 198, and from Quebec 378 miles. Opposite to, and distant about half a mile from the town, is a long low peninsula, forming the west-side of Navy Bay, the principal naval depòt of the British on this lake, and where the ships of war were con structed,

Of the American military posts on Lake Ontario, the principal one is Sackett's-Harbor,* distant from Kingston, by the ship-channel, 35 miles. We shall defer any further description of this important post, as well as of several other American stations upon Lake Ontario, and along the frontier to the eastward, until some action or military event brings them into notice, The line of demarkation, travelling all the way from the upper lakes, enters the river Cataraqui, * See Plate II,