Row, brothers row, with songs of joy, For now in view a port appears; No rapids here our course annoy, No hidden rocks excite our fears, Be this sweet night to slumber given, And when the morning lights the wave We’ll give our matin songs to heav’n, Our course to bless, our lives to save.” CHAPTER XIV. CONTENTS—The first Vessel—The French—La Salle—The Griffon—Vessels in 1770—During the Rebellion—Building at Carleton Island—Captain Andrews—The Ontario—Col. Burton—Loss of the Ontario—The Sheehans— Hills—Givins’—Murney’s Point—Schooner ‘Speedy’—Mohawk—Mississauga— Duke of Kent—Capt. Bouchette—Paxton—McKenzie—Richardson—Earle Steele—Fortiche—The Governor Simcoe—Sloop ‘Elizabeth’—First vessel built at York—Collins’ Report upon Navigating the Lakes—Navy in Upper Canada, 1795—Rochfoucault—Capt. Bouchette—Officers’ Pay— York, the centre of the Naval Force—Gun Boats—The Loss of the “Speedy”—Reckoner—Dr. Strachan—Solicitor-Gen. Gray—Canada took the lead in building Vessels—First Canadian Merchant Vessel—The York—A Schooner on runners around the Falls—Sending Coals to Newcastle— Upon Bay Quinté—The Outskirts of Civilization—“The Prince Edward” built of Red Cedar—in 1812—Schooner “Mary Ann”—1817—Capt. Matthews. THE FIRST SAILING VESSELS. The first vessels, with sails, which navigated the waters of the lakes, were built by the French, to pursue their discoveries, and to carry on the fur trade. The first sailing vessel launched upon the Lakes, was built by LaSalle. He, with Father Hennepin and Chevalier de Tonti, set sail from Cataraqui, on the 18th November, 1678, for the mouth of the Niagara river, having on board his bark goods, and material for building a brigantine on Lake Erie. During the winter the vessel was commenced, six miles above the Falls, and was launched by the middle of summer, amid great display and ceremony. The vessel was named “Griffon,” according to Garneau; but Father Hennepin says “Cataraqui.” “She was a kind of brigantine, not unlike a Dutch galliot, with a broad elevated bow and stern, very flat in the bottom; she looked much larger than she really was. She was of sixty tons burden. With the aid of tow-lines and sails the Niagara river was, with difficulty, ascended; and on the 7th August, 1679, the first vessel that ever sat upon the lakes, entered Lake Erie.” The end of this vessel was a sad one. (See Introduction). We are indebted to the _Detroit Tribune_ for the following interesting statements: “In 1766 four vessels plied upon Lake Erie. These were the “Gladwin,” “Lady Charlotte,” “Victory,” and “Boston.”