zambique, was about 850,000 rix dollars, or 170,000 pounds
currency. On the articles o f European growth and manufacture,
whofe value might amount to about half of the above
fum, there muft have been a very confiderable profit to the
private merchant at the Cape, beyond what would be required
by the Eaft India Company, and confequendy they muft have
been fold at .a high rate. Yet, under thefe difadvantages, the
trade to the coaft of Brazil might have been extended to many
times the amount.
As in the cafe of the Cape becoming a commercial depot in
the hands of the Eaft India Company, the confumption, in Spa-
niih and Portuguese America, of Eaftern produce, would in-
Creafe to a very great extent,.for all which they would pay i»
fpecie; and as the Company feel the greateft want of fpecie for
their China trade, and ftill more for the necefiary ufes o f their
Indian empire, the fupply o f hard money they would thus obtain,
would confiderably. leffen, if not entirely put an end to,
the difficulties under which they now labour on that account.
And the additional quantities of Indian produce and manufactures
that would he required for this new channel of trade
might prove, in fome degree,> an indemnity to the natives of
India for what the Company-draw from them in the fhape of
revenue to be fent to Europe. 1
The quantity of European and Indian produce confirmed in
South America is by no means trifling. I obferved in Rio de
Janeiro a whole-ftreet, confifting o f fhops, and every‘fhop filled
with Indian muffins and Manchefter goods, which, having
3 come
come through Lifbon, were offered, of courfe, at enormous high
prices; The trade, it is true, that fubfifts between England and-
Portugal, might render it prudent not materially to interfere
with the Portugueze feulements ; but the cafe is very different
with regard to thofe of Spain. The Mother Country, more
intent upon drawing fpecie from the mine than in promoting
the happinefs of its fubjeds in this part of the world, by encouraging
trade and honeit induftry, fuffers them to remain--
frequently without any fupply of European produce and manufacture.
It is no uncommon thing, I underftand, to fee the.
inhabitants of Spanifh America with filver buckles, clafps and
buttons, filver ftirrups and bits to their bridles, whilft the whole
of their clothing are not worth a fingle fluffing. The whalers,
who intend- to- make the coafts of Lima and Peru, are well acquainted
with this circumftance, and generally carry out with
them a quantity of ready made fecond-hand clothing, which,
they difpofe of at a high rate in exchange for Spanifh dollars.
All this branch of trade might, with great advantage to both
parties, be carried on from the Gape of Good--Hope.
The emporium, therefore, being fupplied by the Eaft India
Company with European goods, as well as with India and China,
commodities, the firft to be fold at a very fmall advance on the
London market price, and the latter exempt, or nearly fo, from,
all duties, might be the means of putting a flop to the clan-
deftine traders upon Britifh capitals, but navigating under neutral
colours,1 which has long been a fubjed of unavailing complaint.
The Directors of the Eaft India Company would, no
doubt, be able to decide as to the rate at which it would be
worths