SOURCE OF ST. PETEr's RIVBR. 241 



some general account of the great northern lakes, but we 

 are constrained to evade this subject, on account of the 

 limited nature of our intelligence in relation thereto, and 

 more especially, because a description far more complete 

 and satisfactory may shortly be expected, as the result of 

 the labours and researches of the Commissioners employed 

 in determining the boundary line between the United 

 States, and the territory of Great Britain. We shall there- 

 fore merely remark on the present occasion, that through- 

 out the Lakes Erie, Huron, St. Clair, Michigan, and 

 Green Bay, and the several straits by which they are con- 

 nected, there exist no impediments to steam-boat and sloop 

 navigation, unless the want of safe and commodious har- 

 bours, which generally prevails, be considered as such. 

 The passage into Lake Superior is effectually obstructed 

 by a rapid, denominated the Sault of St. Mary, down 

 which there is a descent of nearly twenty feet, in the dis- 

 tance of four or five hundred yards. But the facility with 

 which a canal or side-cut of any appropriate dimensions 

 can be formed, seems to divest this strait of every formida- 

 ble character, and place it completely under the control 

 of art. The surface of the ground through which a canal 

 may be cut rises no more than five or six feet above Lake 

 Superior, and the distance does not exceed thirteen hun- 

 dred yards. 



Vn. Remarks on a variety of subjects connected with 

 the topography of the country. 



1st. Of the natural features of the country in a military 

 point of view. 



In this view it is proper to comprehend not only the ex- 

 treme northerly frontier of the United States, but to con- 



