An Historical View of the Philippine Islands Volume II Part 4

On the death of Arandia, Senor Espelata, Bishop of Zebu, entered, ad interim, upon the government; and shortly after there arrived at Manila the new Archbishop, Don Manuel Roxo, native of Tala, in the kingdom of New Spain. His Majesty had promoted him from the Vicar Generals.h.i.+p of Mexico to this See, ordering him to be consecrated in New Spain. He took possession of his charge on the 22d of July, 1759, and immediately preferred his claim to hold the military government of the islands, which he contended belonged to him by royal order. The four Oidors were divided in opinion; the Senores Calderon and Davila thinking the Archbishop in the right, and the Senores Villacorta and Galban being of a different way of thinking. While in the hall discussing this subject, Espelata entered, delivered his sentiments with firmness and resolution, and to intimidate them prepared the artillery, and put the troops under arms. This determined conduct induced the Oidors and the Archbishop to give up the point, and the Bishop of Zebu remained in quiet possession. The first thing he did was to revoke many orders of Senor Arandia, and to make some arrangements for checking the Moors, who, since the year 1754, had been ravaging our provinces with impunity. But what occupied the public attention most in his time was the cause of Doctor Orendain. The doctor was accused of being the cause of Arandia's mismanagement of public affairs, and that the Royal Fiscal, Senor Viana, had been by his suggestion confined to his house. Orendain, either through remorse of conscience, or because he dreaded some attempt against his person, took refuge in the Augustine convent at Tondo. As the doctor was treasurer of the Cruzada, the Royal Fiscal took up the idea that his voluntary retreat into a sanctuary indicated his being in debt to the Royal revenue, and on this ground he was taken from his asylum, imprisoned in Fort Santiago, and Senor Villa Corta was ordered to proceed against him. It was found that he had secreted many valuable effects in the convents; but whilst they were employed in this scrutiny, he escaped from the fortress dressed in woman's clothes, going out in a coach, without being recognized by the guard, and took refuge in the Franciscan convent. Villa Corta had recourse to the Vicar General for an order to take him out, which being refused on three different applications, a notary and some troops were sent to take him by force. The Vicar General declared Villa Corta excommunicated, and issued handbills to that effect. This gentleman had recourse to the Royal Audience, who ordered the Vicar General to absolve him, which he did by means of the Curate of the cathedral, but only in a temporary way, and for the s.p.a.ce of thirty days; that is, that if in thirty days the defendant did not return within the pale of the church, the excommunication would again be in force. Senor Villa Corta protested against the conduct of the Vicar General, and so entangled was this cause, that the Judges opposed each other, and even Calderon and Davila were opposed by the King's Solicitor, who had received briefs on the occasion, and the point remained undetermined, some being unwilling to undertake it, and others entertaining opposite opinions upon it. Such was the position of Orendain's business when the royal despatches arrived, in which the Archbishop was appointed Governor ad interim, in consequence of the death of Senor Arandia. He took the baton of government in the year 1761, and determined this famous cause, ordering Orendain to be set at liberty, all his property to be restored to him, and imposing on all perpetual silence on the subject. For this decision Orendain was indebted to his being treasurer of the Cruzada, and his Majesty was satisfied with the issue of the business. The Archbishop administered public affairs rather with the paternal solicitude of a father than the rigour of a Governor, composing all individual differences, and extending his friendly care even to the King of Jolo, who lived in the fortress under considerable privations. He removed him to a house in Manila, decently fitted up, and allowed him a carriage and a sufficiency of domestics for his service. In addition to this, he was desirous of re-establis.h.i.+ng him on the throne; and having taken the opinion of the princ.i.p.al persons of Manila, it was determined that he should be re-conducted to Jolo, with his son Israel, and that he should have a Spanish guard with him, in order that the chiefs of his island might not oblige him to abjure the Catholic faith, which he had embraced under the name of Fernando. Just at the period of putting all this in execution the English appeared before the place, but the importance of this event renders it necessary to be treated of in distinct chapters.

CHAPTER XIII.

Of the Siege of Manila by the English, in the Year 1762.

The courts of England and Spain had declared war in the month of November, 1761, but nothing of this was known at Manila, although there were reasons for our being in some degree on our guard. A priest, who held a correspondence with the English on the coast, received information of an expedition which was preparing there, and Father Quadrado, an Augustine, received a letter from his father by way of China, which informed him of the commencement of hostilities with the English; but as it was private intelligence, and not confirmed, those who had gone on their different pursuits to Canton and Batavia paid no attention to it. On the 14th of September, 1762, an English vessel appeared in the bay, which would not admit our officers on board, and having made soundings all over the bay, sailed again by the point of Mariveles.

The Mahhicas Indians informed us they had seen a large s.h.i.+p of two tiers of guns, and manned with white men, the captain of which had put many questions to them respecting the s.h.i.+ps which traded to New Spain. In Manila it was generally believed this s.h.i.+p was not in search of the Philippine Islands, but was on its pa.s.sage home to Europe, and as it was near the commencement of the winter season, that she was making all despatch to save the monsoon. It afterwards appeared, however, that an English fleet had sailed from Madras the beginning of August for the express purpose of taking Manila, and which was to rendezvous at the island of Luban in case of separation, and which actually did take place in consequence of a gale of wind, which obliged one English frigate to put into Canton, and delayed the arrival of two others eight days after the rest of the squadron appeared in our bay.

On the 22d of September, at half past five in the afternoon, a fleet was discovered, consisting of thirteen sail, and notwithstanding he was thus taken by surprize, the Governor immediately adopted every needful measure of defence, and sent reinforcements to Cavite. While preparations were thus making for the reception of an enemy, an officer was despatched with a letter to the commanding officer of the squadron, demanding to know who he was, and what motive he had for entering the harbour. The following day, in the morning, two English officers landed, and brought the answer of Admiral Cornish, who commanded the squadron, and Brigadier-General Draper, who commanded the troops, stating, that they had orders from the King of Great Britain to take possession of these islands, and they demanded an immediate surrender, for if any resistance were made, having a force sufficiently formidable to attain the object in view, they should commence hostilities as soon as they received an unfavourable reply. The Governor answered, that the proposition they had made could not be accepted by subjects faithful to their allegiance, and that they were ready to lose their lives in the defence of the honour of their Sovereign. The squadron, in consequence, approached near the south front of the powder manufactory, and about six in the afternoon they took possession of that redoubt, in which our people had left some saltpetre, and other effects, having only had time to remove the powder. Supported by the fire of the squadron, they took possession successively of the churches of Malate, La Hermita, San Juan de Bagunbayan, and Santiago, and of all the houses in those suburbs of Manila.

Two piquet guards made a sortie, but not being able to sustain the heat of the enemy's fire from the church of Santiago, they were obliged to retire.

If our troops had, in the first instance, opposed the landing of the enemy, they possibly might have repulsed them, for they effected it in the day-time, when the sea ran high, and there was a very great surf, which occasioned the loss of one of the launches, carrying an eighteen pounder, with the whole of her crew. The other launches landed their troops, the water breast high, carrying their muskets and cartouch boxes on their heads; and under these disadvantages two hundred reached the sh.o.r.e, who immediately drew up in line, covering the landing of the rest. If under these circ.u.mstances they had been attacked, what might not have been expected from the gallantry of our troops? But our numbers were so insignificant, that they were no more than adequate to the defence of the walls. The whole force in Manila consisted of the King's regiment, which was so reduced by death and desertion, and by different detachments in the galleons and garrisons, that they could scarcely muster five hundred and fifty men, of which the artillery consisted of eighty, most of them Indians, very little accustomed to the use of great guns.

On the arrival of the English, four companies of militia were formed from among the merchants, and a few days after five thousand Indians came to our aid, who not knowing how to handle a musket were of very little use. The English had one thousand five hundred European troops, consisting of Draper's regiment, two companies of artillery, three thousand seamen, eight hundred seapoy fusileers, and one thousand four hundred seapoy pioneers, making in all a force of six thousand eight hundred and thirty men. How was it possible to resist such a force, and think of preventing it from disembarking?

On the following day, the 24th, our batteries of San Diego and San Andres commenced their fire, but with very little effect, the enemy being under cover of a church. The same day arrived a galley, which had been despatched by the commander of the Philipino, Acapulco s.h.i.+p, which had put into Palapag. As soon as the enemy perceived this galley, they despatched a light frigate and four shallops in chase, when perceiving itself pursued, it bore up for Navotas, where it was run on sh.o.r.e, and the crew quitted it, leaving on board only the captain and some pa.s.sengers, who were made prisoners. Not being able to get off the galley, the English set it on fire, after stripping it of every thing valuable. Those who escaped informed the Governor that the Philipino was at Palapag, and that the captain was desirous of measures being adopted, without loss of time, for securing the treasure she had on board.

The English likewise, by means of the despatches they had taken in the galley, got information of the situation of the Philipino, and sent off that night a s.h.i.+p of the line and a frigate in quest of her; but instead of her they fell in with the Trinidad, which had just arrived on that part of the coast in her route to Acapulco, and of which they made a prize, with her valuable cargo. Contenting themselves with this, they gave the Philipino an opportunity of putting her treasure on sh.o.r.e, thus preserving what proved our only resource during this war, as we shall see afterwards. In the night a sortie was made from the fort, with a view to dislodge the enemy from the churches, in which they had strongly established themselves. The command of this sortie was given to Monsieur Faller, a Frenchman, who had served in Manila. He sallied out with two four-pounder field pieces, and the requisite number of artillerymen, fifty fusileers of the regulars, a few militia, and eight hundred Indians, armed with lances. He attacked the enemy at his quarters, and the action lasted the whole night; but observing that the English received fresh succours, he withdrew his people towards the church of San Juan de Bagunbayan, from which he kept up a fire against the church of Santiago until the following morning, and from thence, by means of a reinforcement which was sent him from the fort, he was enabled to make good his retreat. This sortie could be considered only as an empty vaunt, for how could they flatter themselves, with a handful of men, with dislodging the English from the churches, which may be considered, in fact, like so many castles, having such immensely thick walls of square stone? Faller by this attempt incurred the charge of treason, however unjustly.

The artillery now began to play incessantly on both sides; the enemy did some injury to the buildings with their bombardment, and some eighteen-inch sh.e.l.ls were picked up in the fort quite entire, and returned to them in their own camp. At night we used charges of canister shot, and kept up a brisk fire of musketry, which produced some effect, for the next day we perceived many of their dead between the esplanade and their trenches.

On the morning of the 27th, at eight o'clock, some Indians and Mestizoes, without having any orders to that effect, presented themselves before the advanced guards of the English camp, fell upon them, and drove them from their posts, but a reinforcement of three hundred men arriving, the advantage was lost, and the Indians repulsed, to whom a signal was made to leave the field open, in order that the artillery might play upon the enemy. During this action, an English officer was seen approaching with a white flag, accompanied by a youth in negro's dress, and beating the chamade on his drum: our artillery suspended their fire, but the Indians attacking the English officer, murdered him and the boy who accompanied him.

The youth in the negro dress turned out to be a nephew of the Archbishop, whom the English had made prisoner in the galley which they took at Navotas, and the officer was bringing him to deliver him up to his uncle. On the morning of the 28th, a letter was received from the English general, demanding peremptorily the head of the officer who fell on this occasion, the body having, the evening before, been found without the head. He demanded also the author of this atrocious act, with a threat that if he was not delivered up, he would send the heads of all the prisoners in his possession. The Governor replied to this demand by exculpating himself from the act, pleading the uncivilized customs of the Indians, and throwing the blame princ.i.p.ally on the sepoys, who did not discontinue their fire on our people even whilst the officer was advancing with the prisoner.

The bombardment now continued with vigour. The enemy had, in the commencement of the siege, placed three mortars behind the church of Santiago, to which they added another battery of three more mortars, which threw the whole city into consternation. On the 29th they fired against the houses of the Governor and Admiral, but without effect; the shots which were fired horizontally reaching only to the beach, and those which they threw by elevation pa.s.sing over the fort to the other side.

We on our part mounted two mortars in the bulwark of San Diego, from whence were thrown sh.e.l.ls against the enemy's camp. On the 30th, we observed from the fort four shallops overset in the surf, with the crew and troops which they were bringing on sh.o.r.e, and the same accident happened to a sampan; and in the evening a south-wester freshening up, a bomb vessel foundered which was advancing against the place. The wreck of this vessel was discovered near Pasay, of which the Indians gave information the day following, and the Governor despatched some cavalry to take possession of it; but having arrived on the spot, they were repelled by the enemy's fusileers, who made a sortie from the quarters at Malate in defence of it.

On the 2d of October, at day-break, a battery of eight twenty-four pounders opened against the angle of the foundery bulwark, and by ten in the morning the whole of the parapet was a ruin. The enemy at the same time directed their sh.e.l.ls against that battery from nine mortars of various calibres, a.s.sisted by the fire of two s.h.i.+ps in front; and so hot was the fire, that we picked up four thousand b.a.l.l.s of twenty-four pounds. But what incommoded the place most was the fusileers, who could see from the tower and church of Santiago all that pa.s.sed in the city, and they could fire as they pleased against its defenders. Notwithstanding such a heavy fire directed against a bulwark without a parapet, only seven men were killed, and about twenty wounded. Our people endeavoured to get possession of the church of Santiago and the artillery, but could not succeed. The s.h.i.+ps discontinued their fire about sun-set, but the fire from the camp continued all night, and dismounted the artillery of our bastion, so that it became necessary to abandon it: the same night, or rather in the morning of the 3d, it was resolved that a sortie should be made from the fort. About five thousand Indians had arrived from the provinces, of which two thousand Pampangos were selected for this undertaking; they were divided into three columns, to advance by different routes; the first, under command of Don Francisco Rodriguez, was to attack the church of Santiago; the second, commanded by Don Santiago Orendain, was ordered to throw itself upon Malate and Hermita; and the third was to attack the troops on the beach, and was commanded by Eslava y Bastos; the whole to be supported by two piquets of fusileers. The Indians were no sooner on the outside of the fort than they began a loud outcry, which prepared the enemy for their reception; and when the column commanded by Rodriguez arrived near the English camp, the Indians hesitated to advance; but being urged on by the famous Ma.n.a.lastas, their chief, they proceeded, and finding the church of Santiago abandoned, they ascended the tower, and began to ring the bells; but the peals were of very short duration, for the English fell upon them, and scarcely allowed them time to retreat.

The other column, which was ordered to advance on Hermita, marched with the utmost silence until Orendain gave them orders to attack, when they began with their accustomed howlings and beating of their drums, and thus threw the English camp into complete disorder. The English general put his troops under arms, and commenced a fire on the Pampangas, who were speedily put to flight, and their confusion was so great that every shot told. Two hundred were left dead on the field, and Orendain clapping spurs to his horse, was very soon out of all personal danger. From this time forward he was considered as a traitor, and after Manila was delivered up to the English, many were the more inclined to believe this, as he was much seen with the English, although nothing was actually proved against him. The third column was more fortunate, as, without having done or received any damage they retired with more honour than the rest. This action, however, so intimidated the Indians, that they almost all retreated to their towns. The fire from the battery did not cease during all this time, and demolished the whole face and platform of the works of the foundery, whose ruins filled up the fosse; but what caused the greatest uneasiness was a battery which the enemy had constructed, and which, at twelve o'clock at noon, was opened against the works of San Andres and San Eugenio, and so hot was the fire, that in two hours the guns were dismounted from their carriages, the parapets thrown down, and several fusileers and workmen killed, and though new parapets were twice replaced with timber and bags of sand, they were immediately demolished. The Governor held a council of war that same evening, at which were present the staff officers, the Royal Audience, the deputies of the city, and the prelates. The military men gave their opinion for a capitulation, the rest were for obstinately continuing the defence, availing themselves of the usual methods of repairing the works. Orders were accordingly given to this effect, but they could not be put in execution, as the few Indians who remained would not undertake such dangerous work, and the Spaniards could not support the fatigue.

On the morning of the 4th the enemy began to throw carcases into the fort; they set fire to some buildings, and the soldiers and inhabitants of Manila were in the greatest consternation. In this state of things, Monsieur Faller went to the Governor, and endeavoured to induce him to capitulate, but as he had already incurred the charge of being a traitor in the first sortie which he made against the English, and the suspicion had been increased from the circ.u.mstance of his going to the enemy's camp with a present from the Governor to the English Commander in Chief, the Oidors would not permit him to have a voice in the matter, suspecting his fidelity. On this account, when the English left this for the peninsula, he was obliged to accompany them, from the apprehension that at Manila they would inst.i.tute some suit against him. At one o'clock in the afternoon of this day, the English troops presented themselves before the lines, showing a very extensive front. The grenadiers were somewhat advanced, and in position to make the a.s.sault. The town on this became in complete confusion, and many inhabitants, with the clergy, seeing that no capitulation was in agitation, determined to quit the city, which they could easily do, as the guard of the Parian gate was composed of the town's people of Manila. The English maintained their threatening position for some time, and retiring without making any further attempt, the inhabitants resumed their tranquillity, and thought no more of capitulation. On the night of the 4th the fire of the enemy was terrible from the artillery, the mortars and small arms by land, and princ.i.p.ally from the roof of the church of St. Jago, until two o'clock in the morning, when it ceased, and was not resumed. From the commencement of the siege they had thrown more than twenty thousand b.a.l.l.s, five thousand sh.e.l.ls, and twenty-five carcases, which ruined a great many buildings in the city, and set it on fire in five different places. We cannot account for this otherwise than that the English, to give more splendor and value to their conquest, resolved on such an enormous expenditure of powder and ball, for much less would have sufficed to take a place which was only in a state to defend itself against Asiatic nations, and not against Europeans.

CHAPTER XIV.

Of the Capture of Manila by the English, and its Capitulation.

The suspension of the enemy's fire appeared to the Spaniards a favourable omen, instead of its being considered as a prelude to an important operation, and no one entertained an idea of capitulation except Monsieur Faller, who had waited on the Governor at an early hour, and endeavoured to persuade him to that measure. He there found the Oidor Senor Galban, who opposed it strenuously, and while they were in the midst of a warm dispute on the subject, intelligence arrived that the enemy had entered the city. In fact the English general had despatched in the night forty Frenchmen, of those he had made prisoners in Pondicherry, with orders to fill up the ditch with the ruins of the works, to examine the breach effectually, clear the way as much as possible, and give due notice of their progress. They performed all this to his entire satisfaction, for there was no one to interrupt them, and about six in the morning they made the signal that all was ready; upon which four hundred men were despatched under the command of Major Fell, who not being able to mount the breach in line on account of its steep ascent, they effected it with shouldered arms, and in such order as they could, apprehending nothing but the springing of mines; for such silence and tranquillity, in a place a.s.saulted in breach, must have appeared incredible, except as the result of stratagem. Meeting with no opposition, Major Fell divided his troops, ordering one half by the curtain of the sea, and the other towards the royal gate, where the guard was very quietly enjoying their ease until the centinel gave the alarm, which was immediately followed by a volley. Thus surprised, they all took to their heels, and the English redoubling their pace, they overtook the stragglers, and not one of them escaped. A detachment filed off from the wall, and opened the royal gate for those British troops to enter, which approached in that direction. General Draper entered with his column, with two field-pieces in front, which, with the incessant fire of the musketry, completely cleared the Calle Real as they advanced. The same mode of attack was observed by the two columns, which enfiladed by the city walls, with this precaution, that in turning the corners of the streets, or public edifices, a temporary halt was made to observe if there were any of our troops at hand. The city continued in such a state of consternation, that the major part of the people thought of nothing but escaping, and as the gates were shut, they climbed over the wall by the side of the river, at a place which offered every facility, and by embarking in boats or swimming, they escaped to the other side. One of the English columns marching along the wall, when it arrived at this spot, saw a great many people pa.s.sing over the river, or waiting to embark, and discharging a volley at them, made very great slaughter. General Draper advanced through the Calle Real as far as the palace with considerable risk, for in Fort Santiago there was a field-piece which commanded the whole street, and being loaded with canister shot, might have swept down immense numbers; but the Archbishop, who had retired to this fort with the Oidors, would not allow them to fire it, apprehending that the English would afterwards revenge themselves on the inhabitants of Manila. Colonel Monson, despatched by Draper, presented himself at the fort, intimating, on the part of his general, that the surrender of the place was expected. The Archbishop presented him a paper, containing the terms of capitulation which he proposed, and requested him to be the bearer of them to his commanding officer for his approbation. The Colonel declined so doing, having no orders to that effect, and threatened that hostilities should proceed if he did not immediately surrender. The Archbishop seeing no other remedy, and taking the word of honour of the Colonel for his personal safety, resolved to leave the fort, and accompanied by the Colonel of the Spanish troops to present himself to the English general, who was by this time in the palace. On his arrival there he was about to kneel, but the General, Draper, would not permit him. He then delivered himself up as a prisoner, and presented the paper, which contained the terms of capitulation, and which chiefly consisted in the free exercise of our religion, the security of private property, a free trade to all the inhabitants of the islands, and the continuation of the powers of the Royal Audience, to keep order among the ill disposed.

The English General retired to consult on these points, and very shortly returned an answer accordingly to all of them, with certain restrictions and additions, which were suggested on the part of his Britannic Majesty, and the capitulation thus arranged was signed by the General Draper and his Excellency the Archbishop. The Colonel took it to the fort, in order to have it counter-signed by the Oidors, which being done, they immediately delivered up the fort to the English, and retired to the palace to pay their respects to the conqueror. When the enemy's s.h.i.+ps perceived the British flag displayed on the fort, they made a most tremendous and confused noise, by repeated cheering, and in the midst of it a nephew of Admiral Cornish, in his attempt to reach Manila, was overset on the bar. This expedition cost the English more than a thousand men, if the diary of the Archbishop may be credited, which says, "They have not been able to ascertain exactly the number of killed on the part of the enemy; it is only known by the circ.u.mstance, that in reviewing the troops two days after the taking of the place, the enemy missed more than a thousand men, of which number sixteen were officers. Among these was the first major of the regiment of Draper, who died of a wound by an arrow, which he received on the day of the a.s.sault, and the commandant of the regiment of Chamal, who was killed by a musket shot while reconnoitring with a gla.s.s from the tower of Santiago. The vice-admiral was drowned coming on sh.o.r.e in a boat." On our part, a major, two captains, two subalterns, and fifty soldiers of the regulars, with thirty militia, fell.

Before they delivered up the city to plunder, the English general ordered all the Indians to be sent away. These consisted of such as had been collected from the country for the defence of the place, and of servants or others, who, in the general confusion, found themselves under no control, and were committing great excesses throughout the different divisions of the city.

At the request of the Archbishop, guards were placed at the convent of Santa Clara, and the other nunneries, to prevent the soldiers from committing any outrages on them. These dispositions being made, the city was delivered up to pillage, and the soldiers spreading themselves over the town, plunder and robbery became general, and was accompanied by those atrocities which are usual with victorious troops, although, to say the truth, there was no reason to complain of the English soldiers, as they were sufficiently moderate, in comparison to what generally takes place on such occasions. The Indians were much worse than they, for they discovered where the riches of their masters lay, in order that they might partic.i.p.ate in the plunder. The Indians, who had been sent out of the town, with those who lived in the suburbs, and the prisoners whom the English had the imprudence to liberate from the prisons, spread themselves through the quarters of Santa Cruz and Binondoc, and exercising all the rights of conquerors, plundered them, murdered all that resisted, ravished the women, and committed every species of atrocity; but the greatest cruelties were exercised upon the highways on an infinite number of people, who, flying without knowing wherefore, fell into the hands of these banditti, and were with impunity murdered for the sake of what they possessed.

The time allowed to plunder was only three hours, but the following day it continued as at first, which the Archbishop representing to the English, and intreating them to have some compa.s.sion on the miserable city, the General gave orders that those found pillaging should be punished with death, and actually some Chinese were hanged. General Draper himself killed one, whom he found in the act of robbery, and he ordered that every thing that had been taken from the churches should be restored; but some priests' vestments only were found, in which the seapoys having dressed themselves, had paraded through the town. On the 6th of October, the English presented to the Archbishop and magistrates the capitulation, duly arranged, and among other things they required that Cavite should be delivered up to them. The Spaniards agreed to this, but the commanding officer of the castle not being of that opinion, was determined to hold it. The Archbishop sent the major of that garrison, who had been made prisoner at Manila, with orders to surrender the fort, as the English had shut the gates of Manila, and put their troops under arms, threatening to murder all the Spaniards if Cavite was not given up, and the other articles of the capitulation fulfilled, which the Archbishop had acceded to. The major went accordingly to Cavite, openly declaring that it was to be delivered up to the English: he presented his despatches to the commanding officer, who called a council of war, but on being informed that the troops had quitted their posts, and that the Indians were plundering the a.r.s.enal, he embarked in a vessel, and left the major to make the surrender.

The British also demanded in their terms of capitulation a contribution of four millions of dollars: this proposition made to a city which had been just delivered up to a plunder of upwards of twenty-four hours was tyrannical; but as our people perceived they were at the mercy of the conquerors, they at last consented to make up two millions in specie, and draw bills on the royal treasury at Madrid for the other two millions.

They immediately began to make contributions on the inhabitants; and the result was, that with all the silver which the pious establishments could furnish, together with the ornaments of the churches, and the Archbishop's wrought plate, including his rings and breast cross, they could only make up the sum of five hundred and forty-six thousand dollars. The English officer intimated that he would be satisfied with one million down, and that the rest should be drawn from the cargo of the Philipino, in case it should prove that the English had not got possession of her previous to the day on which the capitulation was signed; even one million, however, could not be raised. The day before the capture of Manila, a royal messenger had been despatched with one hundred and eleven thousand dollars, with orders to secure the money in some place of safety near the Lake Bay. The Archbishop being hard pressed to make up the million, sent orders to the Marquisses of Villamediana and Monte Castro to bring that money to Manila. But on this being intimated to the Franciscan friars, who, in fact, governed that part of the country, they armed the Indians, and compelled the officer who had it in charge to convey the money to the province of Pampanga, furnis.h.i.+ng him with Indians to carry it, who took it over the mountains, and succeeded in securing it from the English, lodging it in safety with the missionaries of Ytuy, bordering on Pampanga, Cagayan, and Pangasinan. In the end, every thing of value which could be discovered, either public or private property, was delivered up to the English, but notwithstanding there was much discontent and misunderstanding on this subject.

The princ.i.p.al feature in the capitulation was the surrender of the whole of these islands to the English, an article in it which the Archbishop and Oidors were compelled by circ.u.mstances to accede to, though reluctantly; but this was not so easily accomplished, as Senor Anda was charged with the defence of them, and he was not disposed to submit without an appeal to arms. General Draper being informed of this, thought himself justified in availing himself of stratagem. He issued a proclamation, in which he commiserated the fate of the Indians, on account of the tribute which they paid to the Spaniards, giving the a.s.surance that the King of Great Britain would not exact it of them, and thus endeavouring to excite them to open rebellion. He then persuaded the Archbishop that he was the proper Governor, and as such got him to despatch an escort, to induce the Spanish families, who had taken refuge in the provinces, to return to Manila, and to appoint an Englishman as Corregidor of Tondo, who had been some time married and established in Manila. General Draper treated the religious orders with much respect, and granted permission to the monks to return to their convents, in order to draw over to his interest this body, which, from what the Franciscans had done, he judged must have great influence in the interior of the country. Above all things, he was desirous of bringing over to his views the Friar Francisco Remigio Hernandez, who was at the head of the Augustines in the provinces, in consequence of the recent death of the provincial. He pressed him repeatedly by letters to come to Manila, but he could not succeed, that father adhering firmly to his first answer, in which he told him, that if he had any thing to communicate to him, he might do it in writing. As General Draper saw that no progress was made in this way, he ordered the Archbishop to a.s.semble a congress of the princ.i.p.al people of the city, and to propose to them the cession of all the islands to his Britannic Majesty; but Senor Viana, the royal fiscal, opposed it most strenuously. The day following, however, in consequence of threats held out by the English, the Spaniards had the weakness to sign this cession. Monsieur Faller, who had been suspected of treason, conducted himself more honourably, as he would on no account accept the government of Zamboanga, where the English commander wished to send him with a sufficiency of troops to take possession, in case they were unwilling to receive him; and a similar conduct was observed by a poor but honourable Spaniard, named Don Louis Sandobal.

Unsuccessful in his plans, the English general resolved to return to Europe. He left Major Fell as military commander, and Drake as governor, with Smith and Brock as council. Breton was left in charge of Cavite. When on the point of embarking, he gave orders for two frigates to be despatched in search of the treasure on board of the Philipino, and that the Oidor Villa Costa, and the royal Fiscal, should embark in them, in order that their influence might be exerted in attaining the object; but on the intimation being conveyed to them they both declined it, and were in consequence imprisoned. At the request of the Archbishop, Draper afterwards gave them their liberty, and named in their room two merchants and two regidores. The frigates sailed, but were very long in making the island of Capul, where an English Jesuit was the residing priest. The currents and foul winds contributed much to r.e.t.a.r.d the expedition, but seeing them determined to prosecute their voyage, and insisting that a pilot should be given them for that purpose, threatening they would raise all the Indians in case of refusal, a Meztizo, in whom the Spaniards could confide, was sent for that purpose, but he was enjoined to detain the frigates in the harbour mouth as long as possible. So well did the Meztizo fulfil the charge given to him by the Jesuit father, that they had time to save the treasure in the provinces of Albay and Camarines, the galleys which conveyed it pa.s.sing in view of the enemy's frigates, which, however, soon lost sight of them in a squall. The English commander, suspecting the plate to be placed out of his reach, and in safety, returned to Manila, where he was ill received by his commanding officer.

CHAPTER XV.

Of the Defence of the Islands by the Oidor Don Simon de Anda.

On the day before the capture of Manila, Senor Anda quitted the city, with the t.i.tle of visitor and lieutenant governor, in order to maintain the islands in obedience to the King of Spain. He arrived at Bulacan with forty orders under the royal seal, which were the only supply of arms and money with which he was furnished, as the treasure had been sent to the Lake Bay. As soon as it was known in Bulacan that the English were in possession of Manila, he summoned a meeting, at which were present the Father Hernandez, who filled the office of provincial of St. Augustine, the chief magistrates of the province, and other Spaniards and Augustine friars, and laying before them the resolutions of the Royal Audience, and the authority with which he was furnished by the Governor to defend the islands, he at the same time adverted to the insufficiency of their force to make resistance to the English. They highly praised all the measures of the Royal Audience and the Governor of Manila, and promised to spill the last drop of their blood rather than forsake him. The monks offered to raise troops in the towns for the service, and conduct them to the field. He gave them thanks for their loyalty, and thinking that the t.i.tle of visitor appeared of too little importance for the undertaking he was upon, he declared himself under the necessity of having recourse to certain old established regulations, which ordain that the Royal Audience may be preserved in the person of one Oidor, and in case of a vacancy in the government seat, that the Royal Audience may take the government, and the oldest Oidor command the military, unless any other arrangement should be made by his Majesty. And on this occasion the other Oidors and Governor being prisoners of war, and dead in the eye of the law, all these offices fell of necessity on him. He accordingly got himself acknowledged as Governor of the islands, in which capacity, joined to the office of Royal Audience, he circulated his orders to the different alcaldes and ecclesiastical superintendants of missions, no one, in the smallest degree, questioning his authority.

Senor Anda fixed his residence, and the seat of government, at the town of Bacolor, the capital of the province of Pampanga, where he sent the Augustine friars, accompanied by some troops, some fugitives from Manila, and some Indian militia: the friars were directed to watch over the tranquillity and security of the provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan. Had the English then despatched a small detachment for the purpose, they would have got possession of those two provinces; but General Draper was not disposed to think the acquisition of these islands an object of such difficult attainment as to require such prompt measures.

The British council left by General Draper in Manila followed his plans, and convening a meeting of the princ.i.p.al inhabitants of the city, Senor Anda was declared by this a.s.sembly a seditious person, and deserving of capital punishment. The same censure extended to the Marquis of Monte Castro, who having been allowed his parole of honour, had not returned at the appointed time, and likewise to the provincial of Saint Augustine, who had joined the party of Senor Anda: all the Augustine friars too were declared traitors. At this meeting much discussion took place on the subject of making up the deficiency of the million in specie which had been stipulated for, but the Spaniards replied, that with what had been taken in the Trinidad, which, according to the articles of capitulation, was not to be deemed a prize, the amount had been made good, and the religious establishments pleaded that they had been stripped of all their valuables.

The English council forcibly recommended, that the friars should impress upon the Indians the necessity of peaceable conduct under the novelty of their situation, as otherwise their interference with them would be totally interdicted. But the prior of St. Augustine being urged to use his influence with the friars of Bulacan and Pampanga, answered, that they were not under his authority, but under the provincial, who was his superior. For this guarded reply he was ordered to be confined in his convent; and although he in person represented to the council that he ought not to be considered as a prisoner of war, having come to Manila under a protection granted by them, they refused to listen to him, but ordered him to be escorted back to his convent with bayonets fixed, leaving a guard to prevent his quitting it.

The English perceiving that decrees were of very little service, and that it was necessary to have recourse to force, determined to take possession of a position on the Pasig, in order to open a pa.s.sage for provisions from the Lake Bay; and Thomas Backhouse, whom the Spaniards called Becus for that purpose, filed off with five hundred men to the left of the river. He arrived in front of Maybonga, where the famous Bustos was stationed with his Cagayans, ready to defend the pa.s.sage of the river. He fired upon the first English party that advanced, but as soon as they returned it, he retired to Maraquina with his people. The enemy pa.s.sed the river without hesitation, and sent an officer with a white flag, to summons the Indians to surrender. The boasting little Governor answered, that the Pasig was not Manila, and if the Spaniards had given that up to them in a treacherous manner, he would defend his post to the last; adding, that should the officer return with the white flag (a trick he might deceive children with), he would hang him on the first tree. This reply being reported to Backhouse, he immediately ordered the troops to march, and the two field-pieces he had with him beginning to play, the Indians became alarmed to such a degree, that they fled precipitately. Such, indeed, was their hurry and confusion at the bridge near the convent, that numbers of them were drowned.

The English got possession of the convent without resistance, and pursued the Indians as if they had been a flock of goats as far as the river Bamban, which they swam over, at least all those who had the good fortune to escape the enemy's bullets. The King of Jolo, attempting to defend a post occupied by his family, was obliged to surrender. The English fortified this post, and maintained themselves in it till the peace.

By this time Senor Anda had collected some troops, which he was enabled to maintain with the money which had been saved in Pampanga. Bustos, in the capacity of his lieutenant-general, paraded the province of Bulacan, making an ostentatious display of the power of Senor Anda; and the Pampangan Indians, commanded by a Franciscan and an Augustine friar, advanced to Maysilo, about two leagues distance from Manila, idly expecting that Bustos would support them under all circ.u.mstances. The English sallied out to dislodge them; and our Indians formed an ambuscade, in which they hoped to succeed by counterfeiting death, when it was said that many of the enemy fell; but a friar a.s.serted, that by means of a gla.s.s he had observed from the Tambobon tower that the Indians only let fly their arrows, and immediately made the best of their way. Certain it is that the English burnt Maysilo, and re-entered Manila with their field-pieces, without any diminution of their numbers.