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TONNAGE OF THE LAKES. By John J. HENDERSON, Esq., Sec'y. of Board of Trade, Buffalo.- [To be continued.) - The Great West. has now a commerce, within its own limits, nearly as valuable as that which floats between the United States and Europe. Leaving the western rivers out of consideration, and confining ourselves merely to the Lakes, we find a tonnage enrolled and licensed at the several American ports, embracing 110 steamers, 97 propellers, 33 barques, 101 brigs, 639 schooners, and 216 sloops and scows, making an aggregate of 237,830 tons. The history of man does not exhibit a spectacle of such rapid advancement in population, wealth and industry -- such energy, perseverance and public spirit, as is manifested in the progress of the western people. In the year 1794, the treaty known as "Jay's treaty" was concluded between England and the United States, under which the English agreed to surrender the military posts on the American side of the Lakes. The surrender, however, did not take place until the summer of 1796, and from that time only have we used, or had the privilege of using, our great Lakes, over which now floats a commerce of millions of dollars. The first American vessel built on Lake Erie was constructed at Four Mile Creek, near Erie, Pa., in 1797, and was called the "Washington." The first American vessel built on Lake Ontario was at Hanford's Landing, 3 miles below Rochester, in 1798, of 30 tons, and was called the "Jemima." From this time to the commencement of the war of 1812, a large number of vessels were built. Many were lost by storms, and several were captured by the British, during the war, and burnt, so that at the time peace was restored, very few vessels were on the Lakes, except such as had been used by the Government during the war. In 1816, the steamboat Ontario was built on Lake Onta- rio, and in 1818, the Walk-in-the- Water, at Black Rock. This was the first use of steam on the Lakes. In 1826, or 1827, the waters of Lake Michigan were first ploughed by steam, and in 1832, the first steamer made its appearance at Chicago. Prior to 1832, the whole commerce west of Detroit was confined almost exclusively to carrying up