404 t r a v e l s in
are already conftruaed for its defence againft internal or external
attack, or on the local advantages it poffeffes of being rendered
defencible, it may be expeded I ihould here fay fome-
thing on this fubjea. Being no profeffional man, I am aware,
in doing'this, of the riik I run of laying myfelf open to the
cenfure of fome who are fo, particularly as I have heard fo many
and fuch contrary opinions advanced as to the beft means of
attacking and of defending the Cape of Good Hope. The little
I have to offer on the fubjea will be chiefly defcriptive ; and as
to the defence of the place my ideas will be grounded on the
opinion of thofe whofe fkill in their profeffions, and whofe found
judgment in the ordinary affairs of life, joined to their local
knowledge, entitle fuch opinion to fome degree of confideration.
It may be obferved, however, that there are not, perhaps, two
oflflcers who perfedlyagree on. this fubjea.
By the defence of the Cape of Good Hope, is meant only
that of the peninfular promontory, containing the two bays
which are the ufual refort of fhipping, and on the northern part
of which the town is fituated. And for the better, illuftration of
what f o l l o w s , I have added a military map of the faid penin-
fula, the outline of which was taken, I believe, fome years ago
by a French engineer, was afterwards filled up by different
officers in the Dutch fervice, and was examined, corre&ed, and
verified with great care and accuracy, by Captain (now Lieute-
teriant-Colonel) Bridges of the Britiih engineers, under whofe
dire£tions feveral new and important works were conftru&ed by
order of Sir James Craig. For the fake of conveniency, I found
it neceffary to reduce the fcale to half the fize of the original
3 drawing,