Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-08-29

tween tue respective Wdlu SuUIcs, uav."6
the town Of Cornwall, situated on the Ca
NADIA north shore, opposite its northern
side, and the indian village of St. -Regis
on the Canada south shore, opposite its
south side aud eastern extremity The
upper eod OF tits considerably elevated,
and The channel on each side is so narrow,
that il may command either.
As to the channels through the Long
Saut Islands, the advantages is clearly on
the side of Great Britain. The craft gen.
orally descend by the American main
shore. and ascend by the British.--But
the British side is practicable tor descent.
without much increase OF trouble where
as the American side cannot be assembled.
all boats being obliged to go up by the
Canada shore.
The islands lying 10 immediate proxim-
ity to the Line, between Long Saut Island
and Grand Island betore Kingston, are Of
no Importance.
Grand lsIanJ before Kingston is the
most extensive, rich, and important lsland
on the whole frontier. 1t lies across and
along the 'embouchemsnt' of Lake Onta-
rio, at the head Of the river St. Lawrence,
is in full view Of Kingston Harbor, its
forts and navy yards, and perhaps within
reach of shells to the Canada shore. II
would be great annoyance in the hands
Of an enemy, in our own possession 1t 10
great acquisition. Besides the importance
OF it in military point of view, its terri
torial extent merits consideration.
1t has been ascertained TO contain, bY
an official survey, upwards of 80 900 a.
cres. This islam | is apportioned to Great
Britain.
The Duck Islands, in Lake Ontario,
near 10 Grand Island. are also determined
to His Majesty. They are elevated. ca
pable Of being strongly fortified, afford a
harbor in the Lake, and lie nearly equi-
distant from the respective main shores.
Navy Island, in the Niagara River, is
secured to his Majesty,
Grand Island in the Niagara 10 OF no
moment asa military position; and, con-
sidered merely as territory, is not as vat.
liable as has been imagined: although its
banks are good soil, its interior IS asvamp,
We can well conceive the necessity OF
allotting this Island to the United States,
in order to give them an extent even ap-
preaching to an equivalent for the large
and fine islands apportioEed to His Males
ty; as the other Grand Island before
Kingston) alone contains nearly bali, IN
area, OF all the islands named in the de-
cision between St. Regis and Lake Erie.
1t is to be remarked, that such islands as
do not lie in the middle Of the waters
through which the Boundary passes, are
not specified by name in the decision, but
are only generally mentioned, as decided
to belong to thst nation to whose shores
they are 10 greater proximity, lying be-
tween the same, and the middle OF the
waters which has been fixed as the lIne.
Ia respect TO Lake Erie, there is talr
channel between Point Pele Ton the Can
ada shore) and Pele Island, admitting q.
draft Of lar beyond what is capable OF
passing the outer bar at Detroit River,
which can be the only destination OF Bri,.
fish vessels navigating up the Lake, and
it is close to the British main shore, being
between il and the British Island OF Pele,
as before mentioned. This being the case,
no loss can be sustained by the command
of The channel near Cunningham Island
being entirely within the American wa
ters. We have always been OF opinion IN
this Province, that claim on the part OF
His Majesty to that island, and TO the Bass
islands, which latter form fine harbour,
could never be supported, in consequence,
besides other reasons, of their contigulty
70 the shore OF the United States, and their
remoteness from the Canada Main.
Isle Bots Blanc, in Detroit River, J: the
most important island on the whole IRON
tier, for the defence and protection OF Ca
NADIA. 1t is appropriated to Ills MAJ
jesty.
Fighting Island is also allotted to Great
Britain.
Through the channels OF Lake st. Clair,
by far the greatest extent Of Islands tails
to the British side of the Line.
Only one Island in Lake Huron OF any
consideration namely Drummond's Island,
is given to the United States, 1t was also
expected, that one OF the two, ,Drummond's
or St. Joseph's, must be appointed 10 the
Americans; and We are happy by yielding
the former. TO have received the latter, as
St. Joseph's is in every respect most desl-
rable, both for extent and fertility, and al.
SO for ports, Notifications, and the control
of all the channels TO the falls OF St Ma
~. in the strait of the water communlca-
ton into Lake Superior. 1t is not neces-
sary TO pass the Strait of Drummond's Is
land in proceeding to the northwest. The
east and west straits of the Msniton Is
lands afford equal, or greater facilities,
and altogether avoid the American pos.
sessions, by aAording northern passage.
Thus, interruption from them at Drum
mond's Island may be escaped; but they
must pass near to the lnow British Is
lands, St. Joseph's, in advancing towards
lake Superior.