and a long range of low buildings that were converted, under
the Engliih government, into a general hofpital, with lodgings
for the infpe£tor, ftorekeeper, and apothecary to the forces.
On the weft of the bay are three ftrong batteries at the points
K, L, M, the Rpgge-bay battery, the Amfterdam battery, and
the Chavonne battery, the guns of which all bear diredly upon
the anchorage. At N is alio a fmall battery, called the Mouille,
commanding the entrance of the bay ; for all ihips, when coming
in, keep the point of the Mouille clofe on board, and go
out of the bay between Roben Iiland and the continent. A
little farther, at the point O, where there is a fmall fandy cove,
a work- was thrown up with a few light guns and a furnace for
heating .ihot, to prevent a landing at this place, which they
have further endeavoured to impede by fixing three anchors
acrofs the inlet. A very few ihot from one of our frigates foon,
however, diflodged the enemy from this work.
At Camp’s Bay, on the weftern coaft of the peninfula, there
are alfo a few fmall batteries, and a military poft on the height ■
above it, diredly between the Table Mountain and the Lion’s
Head. An almoft perpetual furf rolls upon the fandy beach of
Camp’s Bay, otherwife, this might be confidered as a very vulnerable
point. An army landing here, and at Three Anchor
Bay, might take the town and all the batteries in their rear, or,
which would ftill be more important, might get pofleffion of
the Lion’s Rump at F, from whence, with a few howitzers, the
town and citadel, and the ftrong batteries on the weft fide of
Table Bay, would be completely commanded. And this hill
has
has the very-great advantage of not being commanded by any
other point.
So fully convinced was Sir James Craig of the vaft . importance
of this fituation, that he propofed to Government, in the
event of the Cape remaining in our pofleffion, to ered a citadel
upon it, with buildings for every military purpofe, filch as barracks
for the garrifon, houfes for an hofpital, buildings for the
ordnance department, for military ftores, and for at leaft twelve,
months’ provifions. , Such a fortification, when properly completed,
would, in the opinion of Sir James, be ably defended,
in time of war, by 1200 men; and would render the town, the
batteries, and the caftle, untenable by an enemy, all of which
might be totally deftroyed from this height in four-and-twenty
hours,: The moft intelligent of the officers of the Dutch garrifon,
now at the Cape, were preeifely of the fame opinion, and
immediately pointed out the fituation as the moft eligible for
ereding a citadel. The Government, however, are not in cir-
cumftances at prefent to undertake a work of fuch magnitude
and expence, not being able to raife funds adequate to meet the
fubfiftence of the troops, and the contingent and extraordinary
expences of the garrifon, confiding of about two thoufand
men.
The greateft difficulty, in employing this fituation for fuch a
purpofe, would be the want of water ; but it.is by no mean’s an
infurmountable difficulty. Twelve hundred men, at a daily
allowance of a quart ,to each man, would confume, in twelve
months, 109,500 gallons, and a ciftern, capable o f' containing
• v o l . i t ; . e e ■ this