First Vessel on Lake Erie. -- The first vessel on our western akes was the " GnffmP The keel was laid by La Salle on 26th of January, 1679, at the mouth of the Cayuga Creek, on the American side of the Niagara, about six miles above the great Falls. The place selected by La Salle was long after used as a ship yard by the Americans, and is now familiarly known as the " Old ship yard." The precise date when the ship w^as launched is uncertain -- it must have been in May or early in June, 1679, for Fatlier Hennepin visited Fort Frontenac after it was launched, and reached the dock on his return on the 4th of August. The Griffin sailed from the mouth of the Niagara on her voyage to the upper lakes on 7th of August, 1679.

First Steamboat on Lake Erie. -- The first Lake Erie steamboat, was called tlie " Walk in the Water. ''^ She was launched at Black Rock, on the Niagara River, on the 28th of May, 181S, and left there on the first trip to Detroit on 23d August following, under the command of Capt. Fish. The Buffiilo Gazette in announcing her departure, says ; " In less than two hours she was ' hull to' from the shore, a distance of 15 nautical miles."

First Settlement of Buffalo. -- In 1798 there were five dwellings, one tavern and one store, all constituted of logs. In

MISCELLANY. 11^5