But if the geographical pofition of the Cape gives it the preeminence,
as a great naval and military ftation, as the barrier
and mafter-key of our Indian pofleffions, it ftill derives other
advantages from this very circumftance, which, though.they are
to be confidered as of a fubordinate nature, are highly deferving
of notice,: thefe are the turn it is capable of giving to the commerce
of India and China; and the encouragement and pro-
teftion it might afford to the Southern Whale Filhery; but as
thefe confiderations are too important to be ilightly paffed over,
it may be proper to referve the obfervations that occur on them
for a fubfequent chapter; and, in the mean time, proceed to
point out the difadvantages that may refult to Britain, and particularly
to the Eaft India Company, from the Cape being placed
in the poffeffion of the Dutch, or, which mull Be confidered as
the fame thing, of the. French, the former being fo much reduced
and degraded by the latter, that they no longer are, and
in all probability never can revive as, a feparate and an independent
nation.
We have already feen the vaft advantages that Great Britain
derived to her trade and pofleffions in India, during the late war,
by holding this barrier in her own hands; let us now confider
what our fituation is, in thefe refpeds, in the prefent ftate of
things. The Cape of Good Hope is in the poffeffion of an
enemy; Rio de la Plata belongs to Spain, who, when ffie has
been plundered of all Ihe can give, will, moil probably, be
forced into ads of hoftility againfl: us; and the Ifles of France
and Bourbon now derive their ufual fupplies from the Cape, for
the
the ufe of the fquadron which, we may prefume, is already there.
Thefe three important ftations, all hoftile to us, form a triangle,
within the boundary lines of which every ihip, bound to op
from the Indies, mull neceffarily pafs; 'and the refpedive pofi-
tions of thefe three points are fo favourable for annoying our
trade, that, were the ikill and adivity of the enemies who hold
them commenfurate with our own, which, fortunately for us,
they certainly are not, it would be almoft an hopelefs attempt
for a ihip to efcape.
It may be urged, perhaps, that the great extent which may
be taken in crofting the equator from eighteen to twenty-fix
degrees of longitude, leaving it to the difcretion of the commanders
of our Eaft India Company’s ihips to keep the American
ihore clofe on board, or to pafs it at a diftance; and the
equally great extent that may be chofen in doubling the Cape,
from the thirty-fourth to the forty-fecond degree of latitude,
would render the cruizing of the enemy fo precarious, that the
odds of efcaping them are greatly in our favour. It is granted
that it may be fo ; and I am, moreover, perfuaded that neither
the French nor the Dutch would attempt to intercept our outward
bound ihips, for thefe two reafons; firft, becaufe their value
is fo much lefs on the outward than on the homeward-bound
paffage; and fecondly, on account of the-uncertainty of falling
in with them, as well as in confideration of the violent ftorms
their cruizers would be almoft fure to encounter off the Cape of
Good Hope;