TRAVELS IN 
France and Bourbon to be ready to ad againft us and to difturb 
the tranquillity of our Indian fettlements, but that they will 
likewife oblige the Dutch to allow an emporium of Eaftern pro- 
dace at this extremity of Africa for the fupply of foreign na- 
tions, and particularly of the Spaniards and Portugueze on the 
Brazil coaft, to the prejudice of the interefts of the Britilh Eaft 
India Company. 
It was an opinion, at one time, pretty generally entertained, 
that by reafon of the long and expenfive voyage to India, and 
of the moderate profits with which the Company was fatlsfied, 
the throwing open of the India trade would be lefs injurious to 
the interefts of the Company than ruinous to the concerns of 
the private merchant who might be induced to engage in it. 
Yet we fee great numbers of lliips every year proceeding, even 
as far as China, under foreign flags, but with Bruifh capitals ; 
and it is certain that the Americans, with very fmall fhips and 
proportionate capitals, find their account in the India and China 
trade, exclufive of that part which employs them in carrying 
home the private propei'ty of individuals, who have enriched 
themfelves in India. The Americans, with the returns of their 
lumber cargo, which they can always difpofe of at the Cape, 
and the produce of their South Sea Fifhery in oil and feal-fkins, 
will always be able to purchafe a cargo of China goods, part of 
which they may find convenient to difpofe of at the Cape on the 
return-voyage, in exchange for wine and brandy. With the 
reft they not only fupply the Weft Indian and American pof- 
feffions of foreign powers, as well as the markets of their own 
extenfive country, but it is well known they have, of late years, 
very 
