About 5 miles below Detroit, upon the opposite side of the strait, is the British village of Sandwich, then containing scarcely fifty houses; and 18 miles lower, and within four of the termination of the strait, is the British village of Amherstburg, then containing about one hundred houses, and a fort where a small garrison was maintained, and where the principal vessels for the service of Lake Erie were constructed.

The American village of Brownstown stands nearly opposite to Amherstburg, which is distant from Quebec by the nearest route by water 815 miles, from Fort Erie about 250 miles, and from York 315 miles.
Lake Erie, from Miamis Bay to the entrance of the straits of Niagara, is in length 257 miles, in breadth 64 miles, and in circumference 658 miles.

The greatest depth of water is between forty and forty-five fathoms, but a very rocky bottom renders the anchorage unsafe in blowing weather.

Except Amherstburg, the British have no harbour or naval depot upon Lake Erie, while the Americans have two or three excellent ones.
_Presqu'ile_ harbour is situate on the southern side of the lake, not far from the entrance to the Niagara.

It is a safe station, but has a seven feet bar at its entrance, as indeed have all the other harbours on this lake.