SOUTHERN AFRICA. ' 203 
the Cape to India they are always glad of the opportunity of 
being employed as transports. 
The situation is pretty much the same with regard to the 
Danes. But the assistance of neither the one nor the other 
could possibly be wanted, provided the numerous fleets of our 
East India Company were permitted to touch at the Cape. 
Without the least inconvenience to their commercial concerns, 
these ships might transport from England to the Cape a con- 
stant succession of raw recruits to be formed there into com- 
plete soldiers, from whence they might take on board as many 
of the latter as should be wanted to reinforce their armies 
serving in India. 
The possession of the Cape is also important in another 
point of view. Foreign nations trading to India may be said 
to be at the mercy of the power which holds this grand out- 
work. 
To England, however, its real value consists more in the 
effectual security it is capable of affording to her trade and 
settlements in India, than to any advantage that might be 
taken of annoying or interrupting the commercial concerns of 
other nations. The unbounded credit of the East India Com^ 
pan}^ the immensity of its capital employed, the superior 
quality of British manufactures, and the low rate at which 
they can be afforded in foreign markets, will always ensure to 
them the best part of the trade to India and China, and give 
to England a preference before the other maritime powers 
of Europe, or that of America. No naval power, therefore, 
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