SOUTHERN AFRICA. 205 
what France could have wished, was, on further considera- 
tion, restored in full sovereignty to its ancient possessors, 
France, finding that her purpose would be completely an- 
swered when once it was rescued out of the hands of the Ens:- 
lish, made no objection to this arrangement. Ceylon she 
considered as a less im])ortant sacrifice, although she knew it 
to be a much greater to Holland than that of the Cape. The 
latter has always been an expensive settlement to the Dutch, 
wliilst from the former they derived a considerable revenue. 
Had the Cape been demanded on the part of England, there 
can be little doubt the French would have been equally eager 
in contesting the point in regard to this settlement as to 
Malta, knowing their vast importance to us as points of se- 
curity. 
I have no intention to discuss the comparative value of 
these two stations to England, considering them both to be 
essentially necessary to her independence as well as to the 
protection of her commerce and settlements, so long as the 
restless and aggrandizing spirit of the French Government 
shall continue to disturb the peace of Europe. It may not, 
however, be improper to endeavour to point out, and to com- 
pare some of the inconveniencies tliat would necessarily have 
resulted to our trade and settlements in the East Indies during 
the late war, from either one or the other of these places being 
in the hands of an ambitious enemy. 
In the first place, it may be considered as a general principle 
that has long been rooted in the French Government, and 
from which it is likely never to depart, to aim at the overthrow 
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