SOUTHERN AFRICA. ^19 
iialf manned ; being intended, though under the command of 
an Admiral, to take on board, and carry to Europe, cargoes of 
coffee. Three frigates had failed a few months before for the 
fame purpofe, under the command of Commodore Melifle, 
and two others formed part of Rear-Ad miral Dekker's fqua- 
dron ; fo that the Dutch had, at that time, in the Eaftern Seas, 
three fhips of the line and five fine frigates, which, how- 
ever, were in no condition to add much luftre to the Batavian 
ilag. 
The ammunition and flores that were found at the capture, 
together with thofe that were given over by the Britifli Go- 
vernment, at the furrender, to the amount of about twenty 
thoufand pounds value, will aerve for many years, not only as 
a fupply of the garrifon, but alfo of the Ifles of France and 
Bourbon. The great barrack, fiiuated between the town and 
the caftle, was put into thorough repair, and fitted up with bed- 
ding and other neceffaries for the reception of two thoufand 
men ; and the citadel, capable of containing one thoufand men, 
with lodgings for the officers, was intended to be put into the 
fame condition. 
Recent accounts mention the deplorable flate of the colony 
under its new government. The revenues are fo reduced as 
to be totally inadequate to meet the expences of the garrifon, 
and they have no hope of any fupply from Holland. New taxes 
were impofed on the inhabitants, which they refufed to pay. 
The troops were in a complete flate of infubordination j feveral 
F F 2 were 
