SOUTHERN AFRICA. 165 
Wynbcrg ; after which the brave burgher cavalry scampered 
away to their respective hames without once stopping to look 
behind them. 
The British troops, led on by General Sir James Craig, 
under the orders of Sir Alured Clarke, marched to attack the 
enemy on their elevated post ; and liaving, by the assistance 
of the sailors, brought his guns and artillery to bear upon 
them, a few shot caused them to retreat within their lines. 
The English encamped on the spot from which they had 
dislodged the enemy ; who, finding it in vain any longer to 
oppose a feeble resistance, sent, in the middle of the night, 
a flag of truce to propose a capitulation, which was acceded 
to and, the next day, concluded between the two parties. 
Most of the members of the government that were well 
disposed to the Prince of Orange, and had conducted them- 
selves with propriety, were continued in oflfice ; and thus the 
plans of the Jacobin party were, for the present, completely 
defeated. 
When the news of this event first reached England, the 
acquisition of so valuable a settlement was considered of the 
utmost importance to the British empire, and particularly to 
the East India Company, as being the grand out-work and 
a complete barrier to their vast possessions in India. So 
forcibly was the public mind impressed with an opinion of 
the great advantages that would result to the nation at large 
from the possession of the Cape, tliat the question was im- 
mediately started and discussed among persons entrusted with 
