Niagara Falls 



1906 into the Lake Errie, which is within a small distance of our 

 Severance Colonies of Pennsylvania and Maryland, and being above the 

 great Fall of Niagara, and in the neighborhood of the Iroquese, 

 who are at present a Barrier against the French, and a sufficient 

 protection to our Fort and trading House at Oswaga, in their 

 Country upon the Lake Frontenac, who by that Trade have 

 secured the Friendship of all the Nations around the Lakes of 

 Huron and Errie. We should from thence, in a little Time, 

 secure the navigation of these great and fine Lakes, and passing to 

 the southward, at the same time, from Hudson's Bay to the Upper 

 Lake, and Lake of Hurons, we should cut off the Communication 

 betwixt their Colonies of Canada and Mississippi, and secure the 

 Inland Trade of all that vast Continent." Further on we have 

 more details, heal and imagined, of our region : " The Streight 

 above Niagara at the Lake is about a League wide. From this to 

 the River Conde is 20 Leagues South-west ; this River runs from 

 the S. E. and is navigable for 60 Leagues without any Cataracts 

 or Falls ; and the Natives say, that from it to a River which falls 

 into the Ocean, is a Land Carriage of only one League. This 

 must be either the Susquehanna or Powtomack, which fall into 

 the Bay of Chisapeak." He further argues the wisdom of mak- 

 ing a settlement on this wonderful river Conde, of building proper 

 vessels there to navigate these lakes, so that " we might gain the 

 whole Navigation and Inland Trade of Furs, etc., from the 

 French, the Fall of Niagara being a sufficient Barrier betwixt us 

 and the French of Canada," etc. It was alleged that the British 

 Government might easily induce colonists from Switzerland and 

 Germany " to strengthen our settlements upon this River and 

 Lake Erie." Another suggestion was that disbanded British 

 troops be sent on half pay to Lake Erie, where they would " make 

 good our possessions, which would be a fine retreat to our Sol- 

 diers, who can't so easily, after being disbanded, bring themselves 

 again to hard Labour, after being so long disused to it." The 

 more Mr. Dobbs dwelt upon it the more important this particular 

 project appeared. The French were to be cut off from com- 



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