SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
143 
CHAP. III. 
Importance of the Cape of Good Hope confidered as a Milltaiy 
Station. 
Views of the Britip Government in taiing Pojfejfion of the Cape — State of that Co- 
lony—Arrival of the Britiffj Forces — Behaviour of the Inhabitants — Capture f the 
Settlement— general Opinion of its Importance — Plans for its Government. — Lord 
Macartney appointed Governor. — Refolution of the Minifer. — ConduFl of the prefent 
DireBors of the Eajl India Company — compared with that of thofe in the American 
War, — Confequences of our Failure in the Expedition againjl the Cape at that Time. 
— Confiderations propofed in a Treaty with Hollcpidin 1787 — Opinion of Lord Ma- 
cartney. — Holland not defrous to have the Cape. — Order of the Eafl India Company 
prohibiting their Ships to touch at the Cape— countermanded with regard to Ships 
navigated by Lafcars — Condition of two Regiments brought to the Cape in fuch Ships. 
—Defign of the following Part of this Work. — Meaning of the Term Military 
Station. — Soldiers t what. — Importance of forming Men previous to Embarkation. 
—Inconveniences attending a Sea Voyage, — India not favourable for forming Recruits 
into Soldiers. — A middle Station defirahle. — -Cape of Good Hope, great Advantages 
of in this RefpeH — poff^Jf^ ci^^ the Requifttes deftred by the Eafl India Company as a 
Depot. — Healthinefs of Climate, various Proofs of—feafons the Cotjfituiion for 
India — remarkable Injlance of in upwards of two thoufand Men fent to India — ano- 
ther in i%velve hundred to the Red Sea. — Dificulties farted againji this Expedition. 
— Importance of the Cape on Account of the fmall Expence of fubfjling Troops there.— ^ 
Value of the Ration here and elfewhere. — Price of Provifions — of Wine. — Profits 
derived by the Government at the Cape from Bills on his Majeftfs Paymaflers'^ 
from Specie imported— from Copper Money — from ijfuing new Paper Money. — Ex- 
penditure in the military Department — a mere Trifle compared with the Importance of 
the Station — capable of being borne in Peace out of the colonial Revenues.— Importance 
of the Cape on account of its local Pofition — injlanced in deiecling the Views ofTippoo 
at 
