Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 2 of 2]Weld, Isaac
History
Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 2 of 2]
Weld, Isaac
Canada -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; United States -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
can approach with safety nearer to it than two miles; nor is there any
good harbour on the south side of Lake Ontario in the neighbourhood of
any large rivers. Sharp built vessels, however, of a considerable size,
can approach with safety to the mouth of Oswegatchee River. The Seneca,
a British vessel of war of twenty-six guns, used formerly to ply
constantly between Fort de la Galette, situated at the mouth of that
river, and the fort at Niagara; and the British fur ships on the lakes
used also, at that time, to discharge the cargoes there, brought down
from the upper country. As therefore the harbour at the mouth of
Oswegatchee is so much better than that at the mouth of Oswego River,
and as they are nearly an equal distance from New York, there is reason
to suppose, that if the river navigation should prove equally good, the
trade between the lakes and New York will be for the most part, if not
wholly, carried on by means of Oswegatchee rather than of Oswego River.
With a fair wind, the passage from Oswegatchee River to Niagara is
accomplished in two days; a voyage only one day longer than that from
Oswego to Niagara with a fair wind.
[Sidenote: FORT GALETTE.]
Fort de la Galette was erected by the French, and though not built till
long after Fort Cataraguis or Frontignac, now Kingston, yet they
esteemed it by far the most important military post on the St. Lawrence,
in the upper country, as it was impossible for any boat or vessel to
pass up or down that river without being observed, whereas they might
easily escape unseen behind the many islands opposite to Kingston. Since
the close of the American war, Fort de la Galette has been dismantled,
as it was within the territory of the United States: nor would any
advantage have arisen from its retention; for it was never of any
importance to us but as a trading post, and as such Kingston, which is
within our own territory, is far more eligibly situated in every point
of view; it has a more safe and commodious harbour, and the fur ships
coming down from Niagara, by stopping there, are saved a voyage of sixty
miles up and down the St. Lawrence, which was oftentimes found to be
more tedious than the voyage from Niagara to Kingston.
In the neighbourhood of La Galette, on the Oswegatchee River, there is a
village of the Oswegatchee Indians, whose numbers are estimated at one
hundred warriors.
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