(2) She thereby becomes the mistress of a large number of superb ports,
several of which can be compared with advantage to the most fortunately
situated harbours in other parts of the world.

(3) She thereby excludes her rivals, and, so to speak, blocks all the
nations of Europe from entry to the Pacific.

(4) Having become the neighbour of Peru and Chili, she casts towards
those countries hopes increasingly assured and greedy.

(5) Her privateers and her fleets in time of war will be able to
devastate the coasts of South America; and, if in the last war she
attempted no such enterprise, the reason appears to be that her astute
policy made her fear to do too much to open the eyes of Spain, and even
of all Europe.

(6) In time of peace, by means of an active contraband trade, she
prepares redoubtable enemies for the Spaniards; she furnishes arms and
ammunition of all kinds to that horde of untamed people who have not yet
been subjugated to the European yoke.

(7) By the same means she enables the products of her manufacturers to
inundate South America, which is shabbily and above all expensively
supplied by Spain.

(8) If amongst the numerous archipelagos that are visited constantly some
formidable military position is found, England will occupy it and,
becoming a nearer neighbour to the rich Spanish possessions, will menace
them more closely, more certainly, and above all more impatiently. Mr.
Flinders, in an expedition of discovery which is calculated to last five
years, and who doubtless at the present moment is traversing the region
under discussion, appears to have that object particularly in view.* (*
Note 32: "M. Flinders, dans une expedition de decouverte qui doit durer
cinq ans, et qui sans doute parcourt en ce moment le theatre qui nous
occupe, paroit avoir plus particulierement cette objet en vue." The
passage is peculiarly interesting. At the time when Peron was writing,
early in December, 1803, Flinders was, as a matter of fact, sailing
towards Ile-de-France in the Cumberland.)

(9) The extraordinarily lucrative whale fishery of New Zealand is
EXCLUSIVELY* (* Note 33: Underlined in original.) assured to them. No
European nation can henceforth, according to the general opinion, compete
with them for that object.

(10) The fishery, no less lucrative, of the enormous seals which cover
the shores of several of the islands of Bass Strait, and from which is
drawn an oil infinitely superior to whale oil,