bers are regarded with an eye of jealoufy, and their growing
wealth with that of avarice. It is calculated that not fewer
than one hundred thoufand Chinefe refide within the territories
of the Dutch Eaft India Company in this ifland, on eachot
whom it was propofed to lay a capitation tax of five rix-dollars;
which, impolitic as it may appear, is ftill better than to put
them to death in cold blood as they did, on the moft frivolous
pretext about the middle of the laft century, to the amount of
many thoufand fouls. Ten thoufand Chinefe, tranfported to
the Cape of Good Hope, would prove a more valuable gold
mine to the colony, than thofe which are fuppofed to exift;
but which moft probably exift only in the imaginations of the
fettlers. •
It is not, however, in the light of a fettlement, .capable of
producing articles of valuable export to the mother country, on
which the real importance of the Cape of Good Hope depends.
Whatever its claims may be as a territorial poffeffion, or a commercial
. emporium, in the hands, of other powers, England
ought to confider it in no other view than as a point of fecunty
or of annoyance to her poffeffions in the Eaft Indies, and to her
commerce with China. On this ground I ihall endeavour to
Rate the folid advantages to be derived from the Cape, as dependent
on the crown of England ; and the very ferious confe-
quences that may'refult from its remaining m the hands of an
enemy.
The firft, as being the moft important confideration, will be
the advantages it poffeffes as a military ftation; after which, I
ihall
ihall attempt to point out its value as a port and naval ftation;
and, in the laft place, as a commercial emporium and territorial
acqùifition. Thefe confiderations will lead me to enquire into
its real intrinfic value as a colony, in its prefent ftate, and to
what extent it feems capable of further improvement. And, as
the information on this head is moft deficient, and opinions
various and contradidory, it may not be unacceptable, and it
certainly is not unimportant, to draw up, from authentic documents,
a ftatiftical {ketch of the fettlement, which will enable-
the reader to form a competent judgment of its value, as a
country capable of fupplying provifions, at a cheap rate, for
the army and navy ; of producing articles o f export for Europe
and America, in exchange for Britiih produce and manufadures;
and as a general dépôt or eentral point for - the fouthern whale
fifhery, which has now become fo great an objed of Britiih
trade and navigation.
If any of the hints thrown out in this volume ihould prove
beneficial to my country, by fuggefting fuch méafures as may
avert the evils which now threaten our trade and fettlements in
the Eaft, I ihall confider the labour and application of three
months not to have been beftowed in vain.