272 TRAVELS IN 
fume, though too afFedled to be real, unfortunately had the ill 
effect of difparaging and undervaluing it in the eyes of the na- 
tion. If they fhould be inclined to plead a want of information 
with regard to the treaty of peace, let them recoiled that, under 
the adrainiftration of Lord Bute, after the preliminaries of peace 
had been figned by the Duke of Bedford, the latter was inftruded, 
at the inftance of the Court of Diredors, to alter an article that 
related to the Carnatlc, or to break off the negoclation ; and 
the article was altered accordingly. Thus might it alfo have 
been with regard to the Cape of Good Hope, had the diredors 
confulted the real interefls of the Eaft India Company. But, as 
there is reafon to believe that, though late, they have feen their 
error, and that they are now convinced the Cape muft either 
become a Britiih territory, or their interefts will very materially 
fuffer ; it is to be hoped they will fhew themfelves as folicitous 
to remove the evil as they were before indifferent in preventing 
it ; for fhould the prefent opportunity be allowed to flip, Tempus 
er'it magna cum opt aver it emptum. 
What the Dutch meant to have done with it, had not the 
prefent war broken out, is uncertain. I was told, from good 
authority, that their intention was to give it a fair trial of ten or 
twelve years, unclogged and unfettered ; to endeavour to raife 
it, by every encouragement, to its greateft pofllble value as a 
territorial poffeffion ; to admit the commerce of all nations on 
equal terms with their own, and to allow an influx of fettlers 
from Europe ; if, at the end of that time, the revenues were 
not fo far improved as not only to meet the ordinary and con- 
tingent 
