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Whatever be the designation which the philosopher, in his abstractions, may apply to the present age, it may well be called, in a mercantile point of view, the age of enterprise. 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 he several American ports embracing 95 steamers, 45 propellers, 5 barks, 93 brigs, 676 schooners and sloops making an aggregate of 153,426 62 tons. The history of man does not exhibit a spectacle of such rapid advancement in population, wealth and industry -- such energy, perseverance and enlightened public spirit on the parts of individuals as is exhibted in the progress of the Western people. In 1836 the first shipment was made from Grand River, Michigan, in the brig John Kenzie, R. C. Bristol, master, now a forwarding merchant at Chicago, which consisted of 3000 bushels wheat. The large number of steam and sail vessels which are appended are but the successors of others which have gone before them, some by decay and many by perishing from the want of adequate harbors to protect them during violent storms. Notwithstanding the immense loss of life and property, our people have continued to encounter obstacles from which a less resolute body of men would have shrunk in despair. The application of steam power to the purposes of navigation, forms the brightest era in the history of this country. It is that which has contributed more than other causes to the rapid growth of our population and the almost miraculous development of our resources. In the arrangement of the first class steamers plying on the western lakes every resource of naval architecture has been put in requisition in their construction, and safety for life and capability for speed has been secured in many in the greatest perfection. A few short years have witnessed the bark canoe displaced by a fleet superior to the commerce of many nations, and the same lapse of time will find the country fully developed -- agriculture in its highest state of perfection, a region rich in treasures of iron, lead, copper, coal, and various other products of the mine yielding rich rewards, and the broad expanse of the lake region whitened with the sails of a gigantic commerce -- for as yet we are but in our infancy. The annexed list comprises all the vessels of all classes: steamers, propellers, barks, brigs, schooners, sloops and scows enrolled on lakes Michigan, Huron, Superior, St. Clair, Erie, Ontario and Champlain, now in commission, as obtained from the different Custom Houses herein named.