SOUTHERN AFRICA, 27^ 
come through Lifbon, were offered, of courfe, at enormous high 
prices. The trade, it is true, that fubfifts betv/een England and 
Portugal, might render it prudent not materially to interfere 
with the Portugueze fettlements ; but the cafe is very different 
with regard to thofe of Spain. The Mother Country, more 
intent upon drawing fpecie from the mine than in promoting 
the happinefs of its fubjeds in this part of the world, by en- 
couraging trade and honeft induflry, fuffers them to rcmaia 
frequently without any fupply of European produce and manu- 
fadure. It is no uncommon thing, I underftand, to fee the 
inhabitants of Spanifh America with filver buckles, clafps and 
buttons, filver ftirrups and bits to their bridles, whilft the whole 
of their clothing are not worth a fmgle fhilling. The whalers, 
who intend to make the coafts of Lima and Peru, are well ac- 
quainted with this circumftance, and generally carry out with 
them a quantity of ready made fecond-hand clothing, which 
they difpofe of at a high rate in exchange for Spanifli dollars. 
All this branch of trade might, with great advantage to both, 
parties, be carried on from the Cape of Good Hope. 
The emporium, therefore, being fupplied by the Eaft India 
Company with European goods, as well as with India and China 
commodities, the firft to be fold at a very fmall advance on the 
London market price, and the latter exempt, or nearly fo, from 
all duties, might he the means of putting a ftop to the clan- 
deftine traders upon Britifh capitals, but navigating under neu- 
tral colours, which has long been a fubje(ft of unavailing com« 
plaint. The Directors of the Eaft India Company would, no 
doubt, be able to decide as to the rate at which it would be 
worth 
