TRAVELS IN 
point, can do no harm, and may, perhaps, ultimately be pro- 
ductive of good, by aflifting thofe, to whofe care the beft 
interefts of the country are committed, to form their judg- 
ment on fads locally colleded, and brought in fome order to- 
gether under one point of view. It is important to prcmife 
that fuch fads were either taken from authentic and official 
.documents, or fell immediately under my own obfervation, 
I proceed then, in the firft place, to confider the Cape of 
Good Hope in the view of a military ftation ; by which is not 
only implied a garrifon to ad for the defence of the fettlement, 
but likewife a depot, or place fuitable for colleding and form- 
ing, fo as always to have in readinefs, a body of troops, either 
belonging to his Majefty's regular regiments, or to the armies 
of the Eaft India Company, fitted and prepared for foreigu 
fervice, and feafoned for the climates .either of the Eaft or the 
Weft Indies. 
A 'Very general notion feems to have been entertained in this 
country in all our former wars, by people who confider only 
the outlines or fuperficies of things, and fuch, by the way, con- 
ftitute by far the largeft portion of mankind, that if the minifter 
can contrive to furnifti money, the money will fupply men, 
and thefe men will form an army. It is true they will fo ; juft 
as a coUedion of oak timber brought to a dock-yard will form 
a (hip. But a great deal of labour is neceffary in the feafoning, 
hewing, and fliaping of fuch timber, and a great deal of judg- 
ment and pradice ftill required to arrange and adapt the feveral 
parts 
