With all the imperfe&ions of this fouthera angle of Africa,
with regard to its bays and eonveniences for Clipping, its geographical
pofition on the globe will always render it a powerful
inftrument in the hands of a maritime nation to dired
the commerce of India and China into new channels, to enrich
its owners, and to diftrefs their enemies. C H A P . V.
Importance of the Cape of Good Hope, eonfidered in a commercial
Point of View, and as a Depot for thé Southern
"Whale Fiihery.
l i f t ; ' - i t,
Intention o f th e United States in forming the Settlement.—-Commerce dtfcour aged._
F-ifing Profperity o f the Colony checked.— Confequences o f its becoming a Free Port.
— American Trade.— Ships under neutral Flags and Briti/h Capitals.— Situation of
Batavian Republic refpeEling the Cape.— Inter¿ßs o f the Eaß India Company.—
Cape eonfidered as an Emporium o f Eaßern Produce— Objections to it attended with
< Lofs to the Crown— and Injury to the London Market.— Remedy. — Trade from the
Cape— to the Weß Indies—to the Brazils— at the Difcretion o f the Company. America—
Holland — France— Advantages o f the Cape as furnißjing Exports Grain
and Pulfe— Wing and Brandy—Wool— Hides and Skins•— Whale O il and Bo/je__
dried Fruits—fait Provifions— Soap and Candles— Aloes— Ivory— Tobacco.— Total
Value o f Exports in four Tears.— Imports from England what—from India and
China— by foreign Nations.— Table o f Imports.— Balance o f Imports over Exports.
— State o f the Colony.—rrRelapfe into Poverty.— Commercial Advantages not Important
to Great ..Britain— eonfidered as a Depot fo r the Southern Whale Fifiery.—
Eßa\lißment o f this Fijhery— might be exclußvely in our Hands through the Cape
— Black Whale— Spermaceti.— Bounties.— Seal Fißery in the Hands o f Americans
— Inducement fo r them to difpofe of their Skins.— Conchßon.
rJ ’HE original intention of the United Provinces, in forming
a fettlement at the Cape of Good Hope, was that of its
being a place of refreihment for the ihipping of their Eaft
India Company, beyond which they thought it not prudent to
v o l . 1 1 . m m extend