302 TRAVELS IN 
plojers. It was, indeed, one of the first objects of the Crown, 
after taking possession, to consult the interests of the East 
India Company in every point of view ; not only in providing 
for their conveniency and security, by its happy position and 
local ascendancxj, but by opening a new market and inter- 
mediate depository for their trade and commodities. It was 
even proposed to place the custom-house under their sole di- 
rection, in order to preclude any grounds of complaint. In 
a word, in every point of view, except that of appointing the 
civil establislinient, the Cape might have actually been con- 
' -sidered as a settlement of the East India Company, 
Leaving, however, the question of privilege to be discussed 
by those who are better informed, and more interested in its 
decision than myself, I proceed to enquire, 
To what extent the Cape of Good Hope might have been 
rendered advantageous to the interests of the British empire, 
as an emporium of Eastern produce ? — as furnishing articles 
of export for consumption in Europe and the West Indies ? — 
,as taking in exchange for colonial produce, articles of British 
growth and manufacture ? 
And lastly, to consider the important advantages that might 
be derived from it, as a central depot for the Southern Whale 
Fishery. 
It is a point of too intricate and nice a nature for me to 
decide, how far it might be advisable for Great Britain to 
establish at the Cape an entrepot for Indian produce, in the 
