BOMBAY.: 
our Indian possessions, and that in no place are we so vulner- 
able as at Bombay, from the smallness of the surrounding territory, 
and the distance from which all supplies must be drawn. If any 
hostile spirit does remain in the breasts of the Mahratta chieftains,, 
and of which I fear there can be no doubt, Bombay affords to the 
French the only means of communication ; and a brilliant success, 
in an attack on that place would give spirits to every secret enemy, 
and induce them at once to throw off the mask. Of the ultimate 
result I should still have no fear ; but the mischief of such a war 
would be incalculable, and the expense would be greater far than 
the alteration of the fort of Bombay, which the Governor seems 
to have some hopes will take place, for he has, for the present, 
refused permission to the inhabitants to rebuild their houses, which 
were consumed by the fire. 
Many other alterations seem necessary to render Bombay as se- 
cure from a surprise as it is from an open attack. The public land- 
ing place is, at present, in the dock-yard, and a free access is allowed 
to this important spot during the whole of the day. At night 
centinels prohibit the approach ; but the guard in the harbour is 
hardly sufficient to prevent boats from reaching it, without exciting 
suspicion ; and so large is the bay, that an enemy might enter it at 
night, without being discovered by the solitary guard-ship, which 
frequently its only protection. The expense that would attend 
the necessary precautions against this danger would be trifling, 
and cannot therefore be an impediment; but there seems to be a 
want of active zeal in those to whom the superintendence of the 
dock-yard is committed, that leaves it thus open to inspection, andj 
possibly, to eventual injury. ^ 
