SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
In 1799 - 103 fliips 
1800 - 109 ditto 
1801 - 130 ditto 
1802 - 131 ditto 
being, in four years, 473 fiiips, 
befides the men of war and coafting veflels. Of thefe 82 were 
Americans, 66 Danes, 24 Portugueze, 15 from Hamburgh, and 
6 Swedes, 4 from Pruflia and Bremen, and the reft EngliQi. 
The Americans, for fome years part, have been eftablifliing 
a very confiderable carrying trade from the eaftward on the 
ruins of the Dutch commerce, and have acquired no fmall por- 
tion of the India and China trade. The fhips of this nation 
have always found it convenient to touch at the Cape, partly 
for the fake of refrefhing their crews, but with a view, at the 
fame time, of difpofrng of the whole or any part of their cargo 
to advantage. This cargo is generally lun:iber, or it is compofed 
of what they quaintly term notions^ from the great variety and 
aflbrtment of goods which they take a fancy, or notion^ may 
fucceed. In payment of fuch a cargo they are glad to get bills 
on India for hard money, which they carry to China to purchafe 
teas, nankeens, and porcelain. From the Cape to India they 
are always willing to be employed as tranfports. 
The fituatlon is pretty much the fame with regard to the 
Danes. But the affiftance of neither the one nor the other 
could poffibly be wanted, provided the numerous fleets of our 
Eaft India Company were permitted to touch at the Cape, 
3 With» 
