TRAVELS IN 
nearly, indeed, that I fuppofe they fcarcely deviate twenty 
leagues from the fame track. If then a fquadron of the enemy's 
fliips from the Cape fhould cruize to windward of this ifland, 
and within fight of it, our India fleet mufl: neceflarily fall into 
their hands. And on this cruizing ground, where the wind is 
fixed and fteady, the water fmooth, and the weather always fine^ 
the enemy's veffels may remain for any length of time. 
The enormous expence, and, indeed, the impradicability, of 
affording effedive convoys to our Indian trade, under fuch un- 
favourable circumftances, mufl: be obvious to every one. The 
expence of one effedive convoy to be fl:ationed off" Saint Helena, 
as long as the Cape remains in the pofl'efTion of the French, to 
fay nothing of the ferious inconvenience of detaching (hips of 
v/ar from more important fl:ations, would be much more than 
fuflScient to maintain the whole eftablifliment of the Cape for a 
twelvemonth ; and, in all probability, more than the profits 
might amount to of the cargoes fo convoyed. Saint Helena, 
befides, is not adequate to furnifli any fupplies for fuch a con- 
voy. With the greateft exertions a few refrefhments are raifed 
for the ufe of the ifland, and the furplus is difpofed of at a mofl: 
extravagant rate for the ufe of the fliips of the Eafl; India Com- 
pany. Tiiey have few horned cattle, and not one of thefe can 
there be killed without the confent of the Governor. Yet this 
is the only place we now have left where a convoy can be afl'em- 
bled. How incalculable then were the advantages of poflefllng 
a middle point between India and Europe, where every neceflary 
refrefliment might be had in the greateft abundance j and which, 
inftead of being a point of danger and annoyance as it now 
. 3 is, 
