Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-05-21
A CRUISE ON THE LAKES.
BY wM. WOOD, NJ. D., U. $. N.

READER, have you ever been on the great
lakes If you have not your mind will scar
| cely be able to realize all their wonders &
| their vast expanse of cool fresh water-theiI
profound clear depths-the commercial sail
and steam navies gliding and foaming over
| their surface-the elegant cities and thriving
nations on their shores. At one point, you
| are amid the crowded masts and busy bEstie
oithe commerce of an old state, i'll few hours,
you may be where civilization has leaped in
full-grown vigor upon the wilderness, and,
struggling for a settlement, has planted its
cities before the long haired and painted savage
has had time to escape from the brick avenues
encroaching upon his forest-home and, wrap
ped in their blankets, with the beautifying
additions of green and red paint on their faces,
and quflls and feathers in their hair, we have
seen them walking the newly made streets
and selling their wares to the new people.
Even though you are accustomed to all the
hustle of the Atlantic cities, and have endeav
ored to conceive some idea of the business
and activity of lake towns, the reality will
still cause astonshment, as you walk along
the wharves of Buffalo-piled, loaded, and
numbered with merchandise, and see its har-
Dor crowded with steamers and sail vessels,
some of which are continually going and COM
ing. Stopping but to glance at these things,
to wonder and ADMIRE we take our passage,
for the newer regions beyond, in u floating
palace of vast extent. Its machinery is ele-
gantly orpamental, and its great and destruc-
tive power hidden by the graceful design and
finish of art. We tread saloon carpeted
with Brussels, furnished with rosewood
piano, rich mirrors, velvet chairs, sofas, and
lounges, and lighted by stained glass in gild-
ed mouldings, while fore and aft we can study
some picturesque scene in the paintings OF the
panels. We sleep on French mahogany bed
steads, while everything in our state-roomis
in similar relation to the demands of refine
ment and luxury.
The tourist, in such boat as this, keeping
along the United States shore of Lake Erie,
will probably stop first at the town of EIse,
formerly Presque Isle, in Pennsylvania, dis
tant about one hundred miles from Buffalo,
This place, with population OF about hve
thousand, has the most secure and capaclous
harbor OIL the lakes. II is formed by narrow
peninsula, which, leaving the main shore,
curves round in the shape of u horseshoe,
separating the bay of Presque Isle from Lake
Erie. The town looks out upon the lake front
a commanding bluff, and is overlooked itself
by n succession of elevated forest-clad ridges, |
so that the scenery from the sea or from the |
shore is commanding. Historical associations
OF no little interest linger around the spot
Here were built the principal vessels of Perry's
VICTORIOUS squadron, ana mere, at TINS day, |
repose, beneath the waters, the battered re-
mains of his flagship, the Lawrence. It's
and water-soaked timbers are, how
ever, fast disappearing in canes, boxes, &C.,
for the curious in relics. The bell which now
the movements of the republicans
of the borough, from the belfry Of the old
and shabby looking courthouse,
once struck the hours and called the watches
on board the flagship of the british commo-
dore.
This having been one Of the line of old I
French posts attempting to enchain the British
the ruins of the old fort are still
to be seen little to the eastward of the town;
and not far from these ruins, on bluff, over
looking the harbor, stands block-house,
built during the last war with England. Erie
was also the burial place of General Anthony
Wayne, and when, many years afterwards,
his body was disenterred, it was found to be
in state of perfect preservation. Erie is al
together a quite old-fashioned looking place,
and seems to love its antiquity, and be re-. I
luctant to tie on to the whirling axis of pro-
gress, and to be dragged in the dust and nnire
of hustle and Improvement For some reason
il is far behind its natural advantages. Some