SOUTHERN AFRICA. 
417 
the intereft of their debt. la order, therefore, to reform fome 
abufes, and for the better regulation of their affairs In India, 
certain commiffioners were appointed in 1792, under the name 
of Commiffaries General, to proceed from Holland, without de- 
lay, upon this important office. 
Finding, on their arrival at the Cape, that the refources of 
Government were nearly exhaufted, the colony in mofl de- 
plorable circumflances, and a general complaint among the in- 
habitants of the want of a circulating medium, they conceived 
it too favourable an occafion to let flip of converting the public 
diftrefs into a temporary profit for the (late ; increafmg, at the 
fame time, the revenue of the latter, while they conferred a 
feeming favour on the former. They iffued, through the Lom- 
bard bank, a loan of fuch fums of damped paper mon^y as 
might be required to fatisfy the wants of thofe who could give 
the neceffary fecurities ; the whole amount being limited to the 
fum of one million rix dollars. 
Thus, by this tranfadion. Government created forltfelf a net 
revenue of about 25,000 rix dollars a year, free of all deduc- 
tions, without rlfk and without trouble, from a fiditious ca- 
pital. It did more than this. Part of the original capital, which, 
at its higheft point was about 680,000 rix dollars, was repaid 
by the inhabitants, and reftored to Government ; but, inftead 
of cancelling fuch fums, as it fhould feem in honour bound to 
do, it applied them towards the payment of the public expences, 
fuffering the whole of the original capital to continue in cir- 
culation. 
VOL. II. 3 H The 
