lyo TRAVELS IN 
the Commodore did not think it prudent to make the attack, 
but contented himself with the capture of a few Dutch India- 
men in Saldanha Bay ; whilst the French Admiral, having 
refitted and refreshed his squadron at the Cape, proceeded to 
Mauritius, and from thence to the Indian Seas with his ships 
and men in the highest order ; a circumstance that was at- 
tended with no small degree of detriment and annoyance to 
the trade and possessions of the East India Company, as 
well as of expence and inconvenience to the Crown. For the 
failure, in the grand object of this expedition, not only gave 
the enemy the vast advantage of landing and refreshing their 
seamen and troops, who were soon recruited by the invigorat- 
ing effects of a temperate climate and abundance of fresh 
provisions, fruits, and vegetables, but it likewise enabled him 
to keep a fleet almost constantly at sea, by the provisions 
and naval stores it received from the Cape through Mauritius 
by agents residing at the former place. Their own islands of 
Mauritius and Bourbon furnish no such supply, their produc- 
tions not being adequate to the consumption of the inhabitants 
and the garrisons. 
The French, in fact, have always contrived to refit and 
provision their ships, and to send their armaments supplied 
with stores to the Indian Seas from the Cape of Good Hope. 
Had it not been for the supplies furnished from this settle- 
ment, together with the possession of the harbour of Trinco- 
malee, it would have been utterly impossible for Suffrein to 
have supported his fleet, or maintained the contest with us in 
the manner he did. 
I . 
