TRAVELS IN 
were no buyers. The limited amount, for which the Govern* 
ment was authorized to draw on the Afiatic Council of the Ba- 
tavian Republic, had long been expended ; and the arrears of 
pay and allowances, ftiil due to the garrifon, inflamed it to 
mutiny. The great depreciation of the paper currency held out 
no encouragement for the Government to try its credit by ex- 
tending the capital already in circulation. All hard money had 
totally difappeared, except Englifli copper penny pieces, to the 
amount of about four thoufand pounds. The addition of a 
French garrifon, under the prefent cireumftances, would, in all 
probability, haften the deftruCtion of the colony, in fo far as 
regarded a fupply of foreign articles in exchange for colonial 
produce. For, it is not to be fuppofed, after their treatment of 
the Dutch at home, they would be inclined to fhew more con- 
fideriition for their colonies. 
As a dependency on the Crown of Great Britain, in the na- 
tural courfe of things, it became a fiourifliing fettlement ; but 
the commercial advantages derived to Britain, in confequence 
of the pofTeffionof it, are not of that magnitude as, confidered 
in this point of view only, to make the retention of it a fine 
qua non to a treaty of peace j not even when carried to the 
higheft pofTible degree of which they are fufceptible. Taken in 
this point of view only, England might very well difpenfe with 
the polTeffion of the Cape. 
It now remains to confider, in the laft place, the important 
advantages that might refult to England, by eftablifliing at the 
Cape a kind of central depot for the Southern Whale Fifliery. 
It 
