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344 of this company, and enjoyed, in consequence of his situation, the lucrative patronage of many valuable offices. In the disposal of the offices in his gift, it appeared that the stadtholder, or his ministers, had not often consulted the interests of the company; and the subsequent loss of the Dutch settlements in the East, which fell an easy prey to the English, was attributed in a great measure to the treachery or lukewarmness of the persons appointed to high situations of confidence and trust in the colonies by the Prince of Orange.

The honour of Colonel Gordon, the governor of the Cape of Good Hope at the time of its capture, is, however, unimpeached and his memory is cherished with sentiments of esteem and regret. He was unfortunate, but not culpable. Having made an unskilful disposition of his forces, they were repulsed by the invading army, and he was obliged to surrender the colony, entrusted to his command. A fine sense of feeling, honourable to his heart as a soldier, prevented him from surviving this misfortune,