and the feafoned foldier for the climate of India, and the ftill
more trying fituation of the voyage thither. The conftitution
■would feem to acquire, by a few years refidence at the Cape, a
ftrength and vigour which not only enabled it to furmount the
inconveniences of the fea, but, contrary to what ufually happens,
to fuftain the fatigue of Jong and continued marches in a
hot climate, immediately after debarkation.
■ The truth of this obfervation was made evident by a number
of inftances that occurred during the feven years that the Cape
remained in our poffefilon; but in none more ftrongly than
that, in the government of Lord Macartney, when three almoft
complete regiments of infantry, the 84th, the 86th, and the
Scotch brigade, were embarked and fent off, at a few days’ notice,
under the command of Major-General Baird, to join the
army of India againft Tippoo Sultaun. This reinforcement,
confifting of upwards of two thoufand men in their fhoes, arrived
to a man, and.in the higheft ftate of health; took the
field the day after their landing; marched into the My fore
country; co-operated with the Indian army, and contributed
very materially towards the conqueft of Seringapatam. The
very man (Major-General Baird), under whofe command they
failed from the Cape but a few months before, led them on to
ftorm this celebrated capital of the Myfore kingdom.
One might have fuppofed that the facility and fuccefs of
throwing reinforcements into India, exemplified in this remarkable
inftance, would have ftamped on the minds of the
dire&ors an indelible value on the Cape. “ By poffeffmg and
“ improving the advantages of feafoning and preparing our
“ troops at the Cape,” obferves Lord Macartney in his letter to
Lord Melville on the importance of the Cape, dated April the
25th, 1801, “ I had it in my power, almoft at a moment’s no-
“ tice, to fend to Madras, under the command of Major-Gene-
“ ral Baird, about two thoufand effedive men in the higheft
“ health, vigour, and difcipline, who eminently contributed to
“ the capture of Seringapatam, and the total fubverfion of the
?! power of Tippoo.”
It did not feem, however, to have made any fuch imprelfion
on the Eaft India Company; at leaft their condud and opinions
indicated no change in confequence of it. Nor could their inflexible
indifference be roufed by the multiplied inftances which
clearly demonftrated the importance of Jjaving a fuitable ftation
for the feafoning and training of young troops to ad, on any
emergency and at a ihort notice, in their fervice, and for the
protedion of their vaft poffeflions in India. Had not the inftance
above recited been confidered as fufiicient to ftamp its
value, the reinforcement of troops that was fent from the Cape,
to accompany the expedition of Sir Home Popham to the Red -
Sea, one might have thought would have forced a full convidion
of the importance of fuch a ftation. On this occafion were embarked,
at almoft a moment’s warning, twelve hundred effedive
men, compofed of detachments of artillery, cavalry, and infantry,
who all arrived to a man, at Coflir, a port in the Red
Sea, from whence <hey were found capable of immediately iuf-
taining long and fatiguing marches, notwithftanding the heat
of the climate, the heavinefs of the ground, and the fcarcity of
water*.