SOUTHERN AFRICA. i;^ 
** sji-stem, and adopt such measures as will shut them out of 
India entirely, and render the possession of the Cape and 
*' of the isles of France and Bourbon of as little use to them 
" as possible." 
Whatever might have been the feelings of the Dutch with 
regard to the Cape, under the old government, I have high 
authority in saying that Holland never did expect, and in- 
deed had scarcely a wish for, the restoration of this colony at 
a peace ; well knowing that they would be allowed by the 
English to enjoy the advantages of refreshing and provision- 
ing their ships, without the expence of maintaining it. In 
fact they are utterly unable to support a garrison sufficient 
for its defence ; and so conscious were they of it that a pro- 
position was made, on the part of Schimmelpenninck, to 
declare the Cape a free port, to be placed under any flag 
except their own. But the only power that Holland pos- 
sessed, in framing the treaty of peace, was a mere name ; 
and all the territories that were nominally restored to the Bata- 
vian Republic were virtually given up to France. As a proof 
of the superior light in which the Dutch consider their settle- 
ments in the East, from which they draw their coffee, pepper, 
and other spices, it may be observed that they have com- 
pletely stripped the Cape of every ship of war, which, with 
seven or eight hundred troops, have proceeded for the de- 
fence of Java and the Molucca Islands ; from these they 
draw a considerable revenue, but the Cape is a burden which 
their finances are little able to support. 
