225

TRIP FROM LEWISTON TO OSWEGO, KINGSTON, AND OGDENSBURGII.

DURING the season of navigation, steamers of a large class, belonging to the Ontario and St. Lawrence Steamboat Company, leave Lewiston daily, following the south or American shore to the foot of Lake Ontario, and thence to Ogdensburgh, on the St. Lawrence River.

On leaving the wharf at Lewiston, a most beautiful and extensive view is afforded of Niagara River, the lower Suspension Bridge, Brock's Monument on Queenston Heights, and the villages of Lewiston and Queenston, with the Mountain Ridge in the background. When are associated the stirring historical events connected with this vicinity, no spot exceeds it in interest. The banks of the river are here elevated from 40 to 50 feet, with bold shores, while the water rushes onward into Lake Ontario, the receptacle of all the waters of the Upper Lakes.

FORT NIAGARA, seven miles below Lewiston, lying on the American shore at the mouth of the Niagara River, is well worthy of a visit in connection with the ruins of Fort George, on the Canadian shore, near the village of Niagara. In 1679, M. De Salle, the explorer of the Mississippi, in the service of France, inclosed the spot on which the fort was here built in 1725, by palisades. In 1759 it was taken by the British, under Sir William Johnson, in whose hands it remained until 1796, when it was evacuated and given up to the United States. On the 19th of December, 1813, it was again taken by the British by surprise; and in March, 1815, again surrendered to the Americans. This old fort is as much noted for being the theater of tyranny and crime as for the scenes of military exploits. While in the hands of the French, there is no doubt of its having been at times used as a prison. In its close and impregnable dungeons, where light was not admitted, for many years

there remained clear traces of the ready instruments for execution or for murder. During the war of the Revolution it was the head-quarters of all that was barbarous and unrelenting and cruel; this being the chief rendezvous of a savage horde that carried death and destruction into the remote American settlements. Of late years, the abduction of William Morgan, who was taken from the jail in Canandaigua, and conveyed more than 100 miles through a populous country, and lodged in the magazine at Fort Niagara, where he was kept three or four days, and then inhumanly drowned-has justly tended to continue its reputation for being the scene of tyranny and murder.

On passing out of the mouth of the Niagara River, and reaching the broad waters of Lake Ontario, a deeply interesting view is afforded of the town of Niagara and Fort Niagara, situated on opposite sides of the river, while in the distance may be seen Brock's Monument, rising nearly 500 feet above the waters of the lake, being eight or ten miles distant.

The steamer now pursues an easterly course in running for Charlotte, or Port Genesee, 80 miles from the mouth of Niagara River. The shores of the lake of a clear day are generally in sight, presenting an elevated and bold appearance for many miles. Eighteen Mile Creek, Thirty Mile Creek, and Oak Orchard River are passed in succession; at the mouth of each there are harbors and small settlements. Braddock's Point is a bold headland ten miles west of the mouth of the Genesce River.

CHARLOTTE, or PORT GENESEE, 80 miles from the mouth of Niagara River, and 60 miles west from Oswego, is situated at the mouth of Genesee River, seven miles by railroad below the city of Rochester, it being the outport for that place. It is a port of entry, possessing a safe harbor, being protected by two long government piers, on one of which is located a light; there is also a light-house on the mainland. The village contains about 400 inhabitants, two churches, three hotels, four stores, four warehouses, one steam elevator, one steam saw-mill, and

an extensive brick-yard. American and British steamers run direct from Charlotte to Cobourg, Port Hope, Toronto, etc., on the Canada side of the lake; also to Oswego, Sacket's Harbor, etc., on the American side, all connecting at Charlotte with railroad cars for Rochester.

The FALLS of the Genesee, near Rochester, are well worthy attention. The banks of the river immediately above Charlotte rise from 50 to 150 feet in height, presenting a fine appearance. The river is navigable for five or six miles to the first fall at Carthage, within the city bounds of Rochester; then other falls occur, the principal and most interesting being near the center of the city, it extending on both sides of the stream. The water-power here afforded is very great, being used to a great extent in propelling flour-mills, saw-mills, etc

GENESEE RIVER, a deeply interesting and romantic stream, rises in Potter Co., Pa., on the great table-land of Western Pennsylvania, interlocking with some of the head sources of the Alleghany and west branch of the Susquehanna River; it then pursues a north course to the New York State line, thence through the county of Allegany; then by many short turnings through the rich and fertile valley of the Genesee, which extends through Monroe County, where it falls into Lake Ontario, six miles below the city of Rochester. Its whole course is about 145 miles. Near its mouth, within the present city limits of Rochester, are two or three important falls, known as the Genesee Falls; within the distance of three miles there being an estimated descent of 226 feet; the great falls at Rochester are 96 feet, at Carthage 75, an intermediate one of 20, and the rest, rapids or small falls; altogether affording an immense amount of hydraulic power, which is used to a great extent, particularly at the Upper Falls, in propelling flouring-mills, and different kinds of manufacturing establishments. the landing at Carthage, which constitutes a part of the city of Rochester, there is a steamboat navigation to Charlotte, or Port Genesee, a distance of four miles, where is a good harbor communicating with Lake Ontario. From the head of the

From

rapids above Rochester it is navigable during high water for a considerable distance, passing through a rich and interesting region of country, celebrated for its fertility. This stream now constitutes the main feeder of the Genesee Valley Canal, which runs parallel to it for the greater part of its length through the State. There are also important falls on this river, both in Allegany and Livingston counties, where are to be found some of its most interesting features. In the town of Portage, Allegany Co., "there are three distinct falls on the river, respectively 60, 90, and 110 feet, within the space of two miles, each differing in character, and each having peculiar beauties. Although the cascades are highly admirable, they are almost disregarded in the wonder and fear caused by the stupendous, perpendicular walls of the river, rising to 400 feet in height, and extending along the stream for three miles, with almost as much regularity as if constructed by art. To this great depth the river has worn its bed in the solid rock, in turns as short and graceful as if winding through the softest meadow."

After leaving Charlotte for Oswego the steamer passes Pultneyville (occasionally stopping), Great Sodus Bay and Little Sodus Bay, running within sight of the south shore; the lake here presenting an irregular coast-line.

GREAT SODUS BAY is a fine sheet of water, affording a secure harbor for lake craft, being from one to three miles wide and five miles long. The fishing is here good, as well as in all the bays along the south shore of the lake.

SODUS POINT, Wayne Co., N. Y., situated at the entrance of Great Sodus Bay, is a port of entry, with a good harbor, and contains a church, a public house, two stores, a steam saw-mill, and about 300 inhabitants.

LITTLE SODUS BAY, 14 miles east of Great Sodus, is another important body of water. "At Little Sodus, in high winds, vessels can often come within the protection of Long Point on one side, and the protecting shores west, between it and Big Sodus, and ride out the storm in the indented shore of the lake, and can, when the improvements to Little Sodus harbor are