874 
TRAVELS IN 
promoted in every refpe£t. They had their agent eftablifhed at 
the Cape, and not the fmalleft article of Eaftern produce, not 
even the moft trifling prefent, was allowed oa any confideration 
to be landed, without a pofitive declaration, in writing, from 
their faid agent, that the landing of fuch article did not interfere 
with, nor was in any fhape injurious to, the concerns of his em- 
ployers. It was, indeed, one of the firft objedts of the crown, 
after taking poffeflion, to confult the interefts of the Eaft India 
Company in every point of view ; not only in providing for 
their conveniency and fecurity, by its happy pofition and local 
afcendancy, but by opening a new market and intermediate 
depofitary for their trade and commodities. It was even pro- 
pofed to place the cuftom-houfe under their fole diredion, in 
order to preclude any grounds of complaint. In a word, in 
every point of view, except that of appointing the civil efltablifli- 
ment, the Cape might have adlually been confidered as a fettle-* 
meat of the Eail India Company. 
Leaving, however, the queftion of privilege to be difcufled by 
thofe who are better informed, and more interefted in its de- 
cifion than myfelf, I proceed to enquire, 
To what extent the Cape of Good Hope might have been 
rendered advantageous to the interefls of the Britifli empire, as 
an emporium of Eaftern produce ? — as furnifhing articles of ex- 
port for confumption in Europe and the Weft Indies ? — as takings 
in exchange for colonial produce, articles of Britifh growth and 
inanufaAure ? 
And, 
