Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/99

Jcmrnal of John Mair, ijgi 89 self, it is about three Miles, half way is a bridge over the outlet of Lake George which communicates with lake Champlain. it is here are the falls which are considerable, I think as high as the Cohouse but not so broad, nor did then the water expand to cover them, there is a fine saw and grist Mill below the fall, the country is here somewhat more clear'd and exhibits a fine appearance, the old French lines and Forts on Tycondaroga are in ruins, the surrounding plains are beautifull. and are now mostly in pasture, but have few inhabitants. I think the view from the flat eminence where the forts stood is a remarkable beautifull and must have been a healthy spot, it is a kind of tongue jutting into the lake and commands the pass, and on the opposite side of the lake is Forts Independance and Defiance in the state of Vermont, this communication of the lake is 20 Miles to the North of the head of lake Champlain where there is a small town call'd Skanesborough. I found that I had done wrong in coming here. I should have gone to that place which is only 14 Miles more of land carriage, and promises a much more certain passage, for I had to depend here on the boats passing loaded from thence, and sometimes they go by in the night witht. calling in. I was forc'd to stay here 2 days before I cou'd find an opporty. the 23rd. at 3 oClock I embark'd in a row boat to go down the lake, and the wind being fair we made before night 30 Miles, the breadth of the lake dont appear thus far to be above 1 1/2 Miles, the surrounding hills do not raise so rapidly as those [around] lake Geo: but leaving in general a plain next the side, and every I or 2 Miles is a settlement, or villiage. Crown point is on the East side, and commands a narrow pass, the ruins announce it to have been considerable, it is on a fine plain, but I shou'd think the hills at the back must have alKvays commanded it. next morning early I continued my rout, the country and lake the same as the preceeding day for 20 Miles (in which distance we pass'd the river of New haven where 6 Miles up are very fine falls, on which river are Iron forges. Grist and Saw Mills) when the lake becomes much wider and encreases 'till it is 23 Miles over, in an eastern bay of which lays Burlington a small town. Grand Isle begins here which runs as the lake for 24 Miles, and 3 Miles broad, then is La Mot's Isle, the lake again gradually decreasing, and about La Motts Isle the land seems low and swampy, the first british post is at Dutchmans point where is a Corporals guard, the second is at Point au fer where is a Capns. Guard, and an Arm'd Schooner; the next post is at Isle aux Noix where is also a Capns. Guard, this Isle is very small; there are very few setlers after passing the first post, from whence the country seems a perfect swamp, swarming with flies and Muskatoes and hav- ing very few settlements till arriv'd at St John's where we did not get till the 25th. at 3 oClock in the afternoon. the Lake from Isle aux noix is very narrow not J/2 a Mile broad, and it seems a miserable swamp, and only 3 log houses in 15 Miles, indeed