of refigning, for ever, to a foreign nation, the ground that was
neceflary for feeding their own cattle; but conceived it could
only be intended for temporary ufe, and that, in time, they would
depart from the country as other Europeans had hitherto done for
the laft century and an half; but, when they obferved them building
houfes and fortifications, fowing and planting the ground,
and rearing their own cattle, they began to be jealous of the encroachments
of their new neighbours, and commenced hofliiities
with a view to expel them. Thefe hoftilities terminated, as is
ufual in fuch cafes, in the further extenfion of the Dutch fet-
tlement,- and in an increafe of troops and eolonifts from Europe.
Still, however, the Dutch Eaft India Company endeavoured
to limit the Cape to the original defign of a port for refreihing
their ihips. They threw every obftacle in the way o f its becoming
a flouriihing fettlement; allowed no trade whatfoever
but what palled through the hands of their own fervarits, and
made it dependent on the Governor-General of Batavia; concluding,
that the fettlers would thus be made equally fubmifiive
to their orders from Europe, and from the feat of their influence
and wealth in the Eaft.
A colony, in fuch a ftate, with their declining commerce, became
a burden and an expence too heavy for them to bear; and
little doubt .was entertained of their willingnefs to difpofe of it
for a moderate fum of money, juft before the French revolution
'and its deftrudive confequences unfettled the affairs of all Europe.
As it never produced any furplus revenue, but, on the
contrary,
contrary, was attended with confiderable expence ; and, as they
never applied it to any other ufe themfelves, but that o f refreihing
their Ihips, which they could always continue to do, in time
of peace, when in the hands of another power, it could not be
fuppofed they would he averfe to part with i t ; and, accordingly,
overtures to this effed were intended to be made by England
about the time when the above unfortunate event took
place.
Having ihewn the neceffity that the ihips of moft of the maritime
powers of Europe find of refreihing at the Cape, it is
obviouily the intereft of all thefe powers that it ihoulcTremain
in the hands of that nation which would have, the leaft motive
for impofing reftridions on foreign vifitors; and it is fcarcely ne-
cefiary to obferve, that, from the general policy of.England, and
the favourable circumftances in which her commerce and navigation
are now placed, the Cape in her pofleffion would always
be open to foreign flapping, and refreihments fiipplied to them
on equal terms as to her own.
I have ftated its vaft importance to England in a military point
of view : it now remains to confider it as a naval ftation. Firft,
as a port for refreihing and refitting the ihips of the Eaft India
Company: feeondly,; as.a ftation for ihips of war, commanding
the entrance into the Indian Seas 5 thirdly, as aifording, by its
geographical pofition, a ready communication with every part
of the globe. After which, I ihall endeavour to point out the
difadvantages that may reiult to the Eaft India.Company, in the
v o l . i i. h H - prefent