were under trial for mutiny, and numbers were: daily defert-
ing with their arms. Univerfal difcontent and general diftrefs
prevailed. In fuch a ftate of things, it is not unreafonable to
conclude that the Cape would fall an eafy conqueil to a British
force.
C H A P . IV.
Importance of the Cape of Good Hope, confidered as a Navaf
Station,
Comparative fmall Space occupied by the Britijh Iflands— their Weight among Nationr
accounted fo r.— Commerce the Source of Britifty Wealth.— Precarioufnefs o f the mere
Carrying-trade.— Colonies improve Navigation.— Charafter o f French Seamen—o f
Dutch Seamen.— Treatment on board their own Ships.— Mortality.— The Cape ne-
ceffary to the Dutch Trade; to India— an intermediate Port¿deferable to other Nations
— leaf fo to JLnglarfir— Reafons ofit.^—Incidentsto which maritime TranfaEtions are
liable male friendly Ports always defirable.— Convenience o f the Cape.— Portugueze
the firft Vfttors—-then the Englfh and Dutch— taken Pojfeffton o f by the latter-^ex-
tend their Territory beyond the original Intention— Impediments thrown'by the Company
— Willingnefs to part with it.— Advantages as a Naval ¿station, not confined to
the Supply of Refrefhments—Refort for, Ships in Diftrefs-rthe Countefs o f Sutherland
Indiaman.— Cape .proper fo r ajfembling Convoys— Proviftons to be procured.—
‘ Importance as 'commanding the Entrance o f the Indian Seas— 1ftes o f France and
Bourboh dependent on' the Cape.— France unable'to difturb India without a Fleet.— .
Trade o f India fubjeEl to the Mafters ofthe- Cape— Healthitiefs o f the Climate fo r
Seamen.— Moderate Expence of fubfifting a Fleet— Sailors* Ration offrejh Proviftons
— Brandy cheaper than Weft India Rum— Cenfumption o f colonial Produce by the
Fleet— about one fourth of the ufual Expence— Wear and Tear o f the Ships corftderable.
Importance ofthe geographical Po/ition o f the Cape— commanding a fpeedy Intercourfe
with moft Parts o f the World.— Difadvantages to Britain in the Hands o f an
Enemy.— Three Points of Annoyance to. our Trade-comparative Danger'.ofthe
outward and homeward hound Pajfages—that o f pafftngthe Straits o f Sunda-—f t
Manilla1—o f L'Aguillas Bank—o f Saint Helena.— Inefficacy o f Convoys .—-Difference,
of Circumftdnces between this and the American War.— Prefent Aim o f France.—
The