Before we quit the fubjed: of the wef- tern waters, we will take a view of their principal connexions with the Atlantic.
Thefe are three; the Hudfon's river, the Patowmac, and the Miflifipi itfelf. Down the laft will pafs all heavy commodities.
But the navigation through the Gulph of Mexico is fo dangerous, and that up the Miflifipi fo difficult and tedious, that it is thought probable that European merchan- dize will not return through that channel* It is mofl: likely that flour, timber, and other heavy articles will be floated on rafts, which will themfelves be an article for fale as well as their loading, the na- vigators returning by land or in light batteaux. There will therefore be a competition between the Hudfon and Pa- towmac rivers for the refidue of the commerce of all the country weflward of Lake Erie, on the waters of the lakes, of the Ohio, and upper parts of the Mif- fifipi. To go to New-York, that part of the trade wiiich comes from the lakes or their waters muft firft be brought into Lake Erie. Between Lake Superior and its waters and Huron are the rapids of St.
Mary, which will permit boats to pafs, but not larger vefTels. Lakes Huron and Michigan afford communication with Lake Erie by veflels of 8 feet draught. That ^art of the trade which comes from the waters of the Miflifipi muft pafs from them through fome portage into the wa- ters of the lakes. The portage from the Illinois river into a water of Michigan is of one mile only. From the Wabafh, Miami, Muikingum, or Alleghaney, are portages into the waters of Lake Erie, of from one to 15 miles. When the commodities are brought into, and have pafTed through Lake Erie, there is be- tween that and Ontario an interruption [ 29 J by the falls of Niagara, where the port- age is of 8 miles ; and between Ontario and the Hudfon's river are portages at the falls of