68 TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA t 
If we trace the water communication in 
an opposite direction, its prodigious extent will 
be a still greater subject of astonishment. 
By ascending the Alleghany River from Pitts¬ 
burgh as far as French Creek, and afterwards 
this latter stream, you come to Fort le Bmuf 
This place is within fifteen miles of Presqu* 
Isle, a town situated upon Lake Erie, which 
has a harbour capable of admitting vessels 
drawing nine feet water. Or you may get 
upon the lake by ascending the great Miami 
River, which falls into the Ohio five hundred 
and fiftv miles below Pittsburgh. From the 
Great Miami there is a portage of nine miles 
only to Sandusky River, which runs into 
Lake Erie. It is most probable, however, 
that whatever intercourse there may be be- 
tween the lakes and the federal city, it will 
be kept up by means of the Alleghany River 
said French Creek, rather than by the Miami, 
as in the last case it would be necessary to 
combat against the stream of the Ohio for 
five hundred and fiftj? miles, a very serious ob¬ 
ject of consideration. 
Lake Erie is three hundred miles in length* 
and ninety in breadth, and there is a free com¬ 
munication between it. Lake Huron, and 
Lake Michigan. Lake Huron is upwards of 
one thousand miles in circumference ; Michi¬ 
gan is somewhat smaller. Numbers of largo 
