[ 5i ] 
from the hither end of the Erie lake, to the 
bottom of the lake Michigan , and for ought 
we know, through all parts of the 3 middle 
lakes. Thefe lakes receive the waters of many 
rivers, that in fome places approach fo near the 
branches of the vaft river Mifpjfippi , that a 
fhort land carriage fupplies the communication. 
And here to ufe the words of a moft judicious 
writer, “ He that reflects on the natural ftate 
“ of that continent muft open to himfelf a 
“ a field for traffick in the fouthern parts of N. 
“ America , and by the means of this river 
“ and the lakes, the imagination takes into 
“ view fuch a fcene of inland navigation ; as 
“cannot be paralleled in any other part of 
“ the world.” 
The honour of firft difcovering thefe ex- 
tensive frefh water feas, is certainly due to the 
French , who are at this time in poffeffion of 
fettlements at Fort Poncha rtria n , on the ftrait 
between Lake Erie and Lake Huron and 
at Mifilimahinac between the latter and the 
upper lake, but as thefe can give them no ti- 
tle againft the original inhabitants or the five 
nations , Conquerors of all the adjacent na- 
tions, fo it is difficult to conceive by what ar- 
guments thefe fmall pofts, inhabited by no fub- 
jebls of France but foldiers, can be extended to 
mark any poffeffion beyond the reach of 
their gun’s, or land actually cultivated, ex- 
cept by fuch as muft intitle the crown of Great 
H 2 Britain 
