SOUTHERN AFRICA. 251 
Having shewn the necessity tliat the ships of most of the 
maritime powers of Europe are under of refreshing at the 
Cape, it is obviously the interest of all those powers that it 
should remain in the hands of that nation which would have 
the least motive for imposing restrictions on foreign visitors ; 
and it is scarcely necessary to observe that, from the general 
policy of England, and the favourable circumstances in which 
her commerce and navigation are now placed, there would be 
a greater security of the Cape, when in her possession, being 
open to foreign shipping, and of refreshments being supplied 
to them on equal terms as to her own, than if left in the hands 
of any other power. 
I have stated its vast importance to England in a military 
point of view : it now remains to consider it as a naval sta- 
tion. First, as a port for refreshing and refitting the ships of 
the East India Company : secondly, as a station for ships of 
■war, commanding the entrance into the Indian seas ; and, 
thirdly, as affording, by its geographical position, a ready 
communication with every part of the globe. After which, I 
shall endeavour to point out the disadvantages that may re- 
sult to the East India Company, in the present war, if the 
French or Dutch are suffered to retain possession of the 
Cape. 
If, in the first place, the advantages resulting from the pos- 
session of this settlement were con fined to the furnish ins of re- 
freshments for the shipping of the East India Company, either 
on their outward or their homeward-bound vov^^e, I am will- 
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