j24^ , TRAVELS IN ■ 
pints of rpirits ; together with a confiderable quaritlty of butter, 
• vinegar, raifms, peas and beans, all the produce of the colony, 
and all of them articles which were to be procured at a moderate 
rate. I conclude, from the quantity expended, that, in this 
year, the fquadron, fuppofing it to confift of three thoufand 
men, was fubfifted moflly on Cape produce ; and, therefore, 
that it coft the Government little more than one-fourth part of 
what it would have done on moft other ftations. 
With refped to the wear and tear of the tackle and furniture, 
I have underftcod it to be very confiderable on this ftation, 
owing to the frequent gales of wind, and the expofed fituation 
of the fhips. Admiral Pringle ufed to fay, that every fouth- 
eafterly gale, of a week's duration, coft his Majefty fome thou- 
fand pounds. But this expence might, probably, be obviated 
by forming an eftablifhment at Saldanha Bay. 
The geographical pofition of the Cape of Good ^Hope, throws 
a vaft weight into the fcale of its importance to England. Its- 
happy fituation, with regard to climate, and the productions of 
the foil, ftamp its value as a depofitary of troops and feamen; 
and its relative pofition on the globe enhances that value by the 
ready communication it commands with almDft every part of 
the world. We have feen with what expedition more than two 
thoufand troops were thrown from hence into India, to the very 
walls of Seringapatam ; and, on another occafion, twelve hun- 
dred effedtive men into Egypt. With equal facility and difpatch 
could the fame, or a greater, number have been conveyed to 
the eaft coaft of North America, the Weft India iflands, or the 
. weft 
