SOUTHERN AFRICA. 253 
It behoves his Majefty's Government then to be upon its guard, 
and to watch the points where we are moft vulnerable, in this 
refped:, with unremitting attention ; but above all, after pro- 
viding for the fecurity of the empire, to crufli, in the cradle, 
the defigns of the French upon India. The firft ftep to this 
defirable object will be the recovery of the Cape of Good Hope ; 
or, which would anfwer pretty nearly the fame purpofe^ the 
deftrudion of the fhlpping that, from time to time, might be af- 
fembled there. An expedition for this purpofe would require 
no troops ; and, having once eftablifhed our fecurity at home, 
fo that we can venture to detach a fquadron fufficient for fuch 
an enterprize, this is an objed not unworthy the confideration 
of Government. I have already obferved that Table Bay, ia 
the opinion of naval people, is favourable for putting fuch a de- 
fign in execution. I fhould imagine that Simon's Bay is ftill 
more fo, there being no works, or none of any confequence, to 
annoy our fhipping from the fhore. 
There are two fmall forts only, one on each fide of the an-> 
chorage, both of which would be immediately filenced by a 
Ihip of the line. The wind, in the winter feafon, v,rhen fhipping 
frequent Simon's Bay, is always favourable for running diredly 
into it, and equally fo for Handing out into the Great Bay Falfe, 
in every part of which there is good anchorage. A fuperior fleet 
will, therefore, at all times, take or deftroy every fhip that may 
be found there ; and the fhipping on the Cape ftation are under 
an abfolute neceflity of going either into Simon's or Saldanha 
Bay in the winter months, and of remaining there from May to 
I Septejji- 
