42 
GAPE OF GOOD HOPE. 
rience may not convince them of their error ; but I much fear that, 
should another war arise between France and Great Britain, they 
will find that the losses they have sustained by the privateers of the 
Mauritius, will have been trifling, in comparison to what they must 
suffer from a hostile navy at the Cape. The India Directors have 
indeed issued their orders to the Captains in their service not to 
approach within one hundred leagues of it, not aware that in latitude 
39 south, the south-westerly winds blow the whole year with such 
force, as to prevent any ship from making way against them; whereas,, 
close to the Bank of Lagullus, the wind is generally from the east- 
ward, or, at any rate, the current sets to the west, sufficiently strong 
to carry a ship forty miles a day. From these circumstances every 
vessel is obliged to keep close to the Cape, and would, consequently, 
in case of hostilities, be at the mercy of an enemy in possession of 
that settlement. This might indeed be remedied by a strong squa- 
dron cruizing there constantly; but the difficulty of supplying it with 
provisions would be no trifling impediment. St. Helena, in its pre- 
sent state, would by no means be able to affi)rd the necessary supplies, 
and the nearest port would therefore be at the Brazils, which could not 
be reached in less than a month. Very heavy gales, which frequently 
occur oflp this promontory, would also render it nearly impossible 
for any fleet to keep its station ; and once driven away by stress of 
weather, or obliged to bear away for St. Helena, in consequence of 
a loss of masts, or any other injury, the ships of the enemy might 
come out, and take every Indiaman or merchantman passing 
by unprotected. Fortunately, however, the evil w^ould not be of 
long duration ; the value of the Cape w^ould become so apparent 
that it would be again attacked, and I have no doubt would easily 
