SOUTHERN AFRICA. 31, 
It is an unlverfally acknowledged truth that, with the promo- 
tion of navigation, are promoted the ftrength and lecurity of 
the Britifli empire ; that the fea is one great fource of its wealth 
and power ; and that its very exiftence, as an independent na- 
tion, is owing to the preponderancy of its navy; yet, it would 
feeni that the advantages offered by this element have hitherto 
been employed only in a very partial manner, . Surrounded as 
we are, on all fides by the fea, every fquare mile of which is, 
perhaps, not much lefs valuable than a fquare mile of land in 
its produce of food for the luftenance of man, how long have 
•we allowed another nation to reap the benefit of this wealthy 
mine, and to fupport from it, almoft exclufively, a population 
which, in proportion to its territory, was double to that of our 
own ; a nation which, by this very fource of induftry and 
wealth, was once enabled to difpute with us the fovereignty of 
the feas ? A nation of fifhermen neceffarlly implies a nation of 
feamen, a race of bold and hardy warriors. The navy of Eng- 
land has defervedly been long regarded as the great bulwark of 
the empire, whllft the mod certain fource of fupplying that 
navy with the beft feamen has been unaccountably negleded. 
Our colonies and our commerce have been hitherto confidered 
as the great nurfery of our feamen, but in times like the prefent, 
when civilized fociety is convulfed in every part of the world, 
our colonies may fail and our commerce may be checked. From 
what fource, then^ is our navy to be manned? The glorious 
feats that have been performed in our fhips of war, from the 
firft-rate down to the pinnace, were not by men taken from the 
plough. Courage alone is not fufficient for the accomplifliment 
of fuch adtions ; there muft be activity, fkill, and management,. 
VOL. II. s ^ fuch 
