SOUTHERN AFRICAo 249 
is, was the bulwark of fecurity to our Indian trade and pof- 
feffions. 
Thofe who may feel inclined to confole themfelves for the 
lofs of the Cape, by refleding that nothing of ferious moment 
happened to our Indian fleets and pofTeffions during the Ame- 
rican war, Ihould recollect the great change of circumftances 
that has taken place fmce that event. Holland, at that time, 
though an impoverifhed and declining nation, was independent 
on France, and had her own pofleflions in India to protect ; 
and France, though equally then, as now, zealous to accompliih 
the ruin of our wealth and power in India, which (he had long 
in vain endeavoured to emulate, had but juft the means of giv- 
ing a feeble protedlion to her territorial pofleffions in that quar- 
ter. Armies were not raifed, nor fleets equipped, with that 
facility under the monarchy, as under republican tyranny, or 
confular defpotifm. Mr. Delacroix took great pains to imprefs 
on the mind of Lord Malmeibury the acceflion of ftrength that 
France had acquired by her republican form of government. 
" Nous ne fommes plus dans la decrepitude de la France mo- 
*' narchique, mais dans toute la force d'une republiqae ado- 
" lefcente." 
France having now no fuch pofl'eflions in India to proted, 
her grand object will be, in co-operation with the Dutch, to 
endeavour to hold in their hands, by rendering it impregna- 
ble, the barrier of all India. When this is once effeded, fhe 
will find little difficulty in aflembling, at her own iflands of 
VOL. II. K K France 
