We do not here pretend to say what its defences should be.

Perhaps strong _tetes-de-pont_ on the Mohawk and Hudson rivers, and detached works on the several lines of communication, may accomplish the desired object; perhaps more central and compact works may be found necessary.

But we insist on the importance of securing this position by _some_ efficient means.

The remarks of Napoleon, (which have already been given,) on the advantages to be derived from fortifying such a central place, where the military wealth of a nation can be secured, are strikingly applicable to this case.
But let us look for a moment at what is called the _western_ plan of defence for our northern frontier.
Certain writers and orators of the western states, in their plans of military defence, would have the principal fortifications of the northern frontier established on Lake Erie, the Detroit river, the St.
Clair, and Lake Huron; and the money proposed for the other frontier and coast works, expended in establishing military and naval depots at Memphis and Pittsburg, and in the construction of a ship-canal from the lower Illinois to Lake Michigan,--for the purpose of obtaining the naval control of the northern lakes.
It is said that British military and steam naval forces will ascend the St.Lawrence to Lake Ontario; that to counteract these operations we must build an opposition steam-navy at Pittsburg and Memphis, and collect out troops on the Ohio and Mississippi, ascend the Mississippi and Illinois, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and the Georgian Bay, cross over to the Ottawa by French river and Lake Nipissing, or Moon river and the Muskago, then descend the Ottawa river to Montreal.

But as there might be some difficulty in conveying their war-steamers over some twelve or fifteen portages between the Georgian Bay and the Ottawa, and as the upper waters of that river are not navigable by such craft, it has, by some of the military writers before alluded to, been deemed preferable to descend Lake Huron, St.Clair river and lake, run the gauntlet past the British forts on the Detroit, descend Lake Erie and the Niagara[26] into Lake Ontario, so as to meet the English as they come steaming up the St.Lawrence! [Footnote 26: How they are to pass the Falls was not determined either by Harry Bluff or the Memphis Convention.] It is agreed upon all sides that the British must first collect their forces at Quebec, and then pass along the line of the St.Lawrence and Lake Ontario to reach the Niagara and Detroit frontiers.