SOUTHERN AFRICA. 269 
convenlency to their trade, might, probably, be the lefs fcrupu- 
lous in rendering it a mifchievous agent againfl: us. Indeed, ex- 
clulive of any vindictive motives, they might, perhaps, be 
tempted by the brilliant idea of eftablifliing a free mart of im- 
port and export at the extremity of Africa ; which, like another 
Tyre or Alexandria, fhould concentrate in itfelf the refources and 
fupplies of every other region of the globe. 
The idea of declaring the Cape of Good Hope a free port Vv^as 
fuggefted, and, in all probability, might have been carried, at 
the late negociations at Amiens, had not the interference of the 
Britifli cabinet wilely counteracted a meafure which, though 
profitable to fpeculators and the inferior nations of Europe 
trading to the Eaft, muft infallibly have proved ruinous to the 
concerns of the Englifh United Company of merchants trading 
to the Eaft Indies. The fales of Leadenhall-ftreet would fuffer 
beyond calculation, were fuch a m.eafure to be adopted by the 
Dutch ; and of all nations the Englifh would be the laft to be- 
nefit by it ; whilfl: the Danes, Swedes, Spaniards, and Portu- 
gueze would find their advantage in purchafmg cargoes of India 
and China goods at the Cape of Good Hope, at a moderate ad- 
vance and without duties, in preference of applying to the Lon- 
don market, where they are liable to duties or puzzled with 
drawbacks ; or rather than profecute the long and expenfive voy- 
age through the Eaftern Seas. 
In like manner it is to be apprehended that, at a general peacC; 
the French, having neither credit nor capital of their own, will 
not only, by means of the Cape, confolidate a force in the Ifles of 
France 
