Dutch, aftuàlly declined it, and expreffed thé ftrongeft wilhes
to return to their connections in the diftant parts of the colony.
What the fate of thefe poor creatures may be is difficult to conjecture.
Convinced, as the Dutch Government would.fpeedily
be, that they would never be prevailed on to draw a trigger
againft the Englilh, it will become a very ferious difficulty in
what manner to difpofe of them. If they Ihould defert- in a
body, which was generally thought would be the event, they
would drive in the whole country. But if, before this happens,
the colonifts ffioüld be granted the prayer of either of their petitions,
the government will he relieved from any apprehenfions
With regard to the Hottentot corps: one of thefe humane pro-
pofals was tb furround and maffacre the whole-corps ; the other,
to put a chain to the leg of every man, and diftribute them,
among the farmers as flaves for life.
The only chance they have of efcaping, reffs upon the-good intentions
of the Governor and Commander in Chief towards them,
from whofe humane difpofition, and honourable character,
they will receive every protection and fupport, as far, at leaft,
as depends upon him'; but, in a revolutionary government, the
beft difpofed muft, in fome degree, fwim with thé toréent of popular
opinion.
One fingle ihip of war, the Bato of 68 guns, remained in
Table Bay, preparing to follow two- others of the fame clafs,
the Pluto and the Kortenaar, to Batavia. None of thefe three
ffiips had any of their lower-deck guns on board, and were only
half
half manned; being intended, though under the command of
an Admiral, to take on board, and carry to Europe, cargoes, of
coffee. Three frigates had failed a few months before for the
fojme purpofe, under the command of- Commodore Meti-flh,
and two others formed part of Rear-Admiral Dekker-'s fqua-
dron ; fo that the Dutch had, at that time, in the Eaftern Seas,
three ihips of the line and five fine frigates, which, however,
were in no condition to add much luftre to the Batavian
flag.
The ammunition and ftores that were found at the capture,
together with thofe that were given over by the Britiih Government,
at the furrender, to the amount of about twenty
thoufand pounds value, will ferve for many years, not only as
a fupply of the garrifon, but alfo of the Ifles of France and
Bourbon. The great barrack, fituated between the town and
the caftle, was put into thorough repair, and fitted up with bedding
and other neceffaries for the reception of two thoufand
men; and the citadel, capable of containing one thoufand men,
with lodgings for the officers, was intended to be put into the
fome condition.
Recent accounts mention the deplorable ftate of the colony
under its new government. The revenues are fo reduced as
to be totally inadequate to meet the expences of the garrifon,
mnd they have no hope of any fupply from Holland. New taxes
were impofed on the inhabitants, which they refufed to pay.
The troops were in a complete ftate of infubordination ; feveral
J a were