SOUTHERN AFRICA. 305 
hands, and under the direction, of the East India Company, 
and shall, therefore, content myself with barely suggesting 
some of the probable consequences that might result from 
such a measure. 
The grand objection against making the Cape an emporium 
between Europe and the East Indies, and between the West 
Indies, America, and Asia, is the prejudice it would neces- 
sarily occasion to the sales of Leadenhall-street, and the con- 
sequent diminution of his Majesty's customs ; for, though 
the East India Company might be made responsible to the 
Crown for the duties on the amount of its sales at the Cape, 
yet the intention of the emporium would entirely be de- 
feated, if the duties demanded there so far enhanced the 
value of the Indian commodities, as to make it equally eli- 
gible for foreign shipping to proceed to India, or to resort to- 
the London market. And if these duties- were reduced, it 
would obviously be attended with a loss to the revenues of 
the Crown ; unless, indeed, the augmentation of the sales, in 
consequence of the measure, should be found to be adequate 
to the reduction of the duties. 
Jt is liable also to another objection, grounded on the detri- 
ment that would ensue to the London market in general. It 
is certain that foreign merchants, purchasing goods at Leaden- 
hall-street, find 4:heir advantage by laying in, at the same time 
and sending in the same ship, an assorted cargo, the produce 
of our colonies and the manufactures of Britain. Now if 
these merchants could contrive lo purchase Indian articles 
