ANNO DOM. 1709.
The Administration of the Conde de Lizarraga.
Don Martin de Ursua y Arismendi Conde de Lizarraga took possession
of his government on the 25th of August, 1709. His first care was to
send out of the islands all those Chinese who had been hitherto in the
habit of remaining annually after the departure of the junks, to the
great prejudice of the Spaniards. The safety of the state required
this step, and all were expelled except those who were mechanics,
or in the service of the public. The indulgence granted to these,
was ascribed to the advantage the Governor derived from the licences
he issued for that purpose. This step taken by the Governor was of
great service to the country, as the Chinese came into it on the
pretext of cultivating the land, and on this ground were allowed to
remain; but it was soon found that they were even less active than
the Indians, and that for one who applied himself to agriculture,
a thousand were dealers of different descriptions, and in this they
were extremely expert. They adulterated the weights and measures,
as well as the different articles of sugar, wax, and almost every
other commodity, so as not to be easily discovered. They were all
monopolizers, watching narrowly the wants of the inhabitants, and the
demand for different articles of consumption, which they kept back
until they rose to their price. All this they had long practised with
impunity, as, by virtue of presents duly applied, they were able to
secure powerful protectors; and although sometimes they were fined,
they took care that, even on the very day the fine was exacted, they
should be reimbursed by the advanced price they fixed on the very
goods in question. By this means they became rich in a short time, and
either remitting their money to China, or returning with it themselves,
they thus defrauded the Philippines annually of immense wealth [1].
The Jesuits of Manila, in 1696, had made an attempt to reduce the
islands of Palaos, or Pelew, which were understood to consist of
thirty-two in number, and to be very populous; but it was not till
1710 that they were enabled to make good a landing on them, when a
patache, sent by the Governor, at last effected this desirable end.
These islanders appeared so friendly, that the pilot who had been
sent on shore with an Indian to discover a good landing-place, was
persuaded to go up the country to the chief, who receiving him with
cordiality, the favourable report he made to the fathers determined
them immediately to land and plant the cross. They accordingly departed
in the launch, accompanied by twelve of the people, with an intention
of returning to the ship as soon as the object was effected; but the
pilot, after making repeated signals, having protracted his stay until
the setting in of the periodical hurricanes, was compelled to abandon
the mission in this state of uncertainty, and return to Manila; since
which time nothing has been heard of the Jesuits or the Spaniards who
accompanied them. Two ships, indeed, have been sent in search of them,
but one was lost, and the other failed in her attempt to reach the
Palaos, the only result of her voyage being the discovery of a few
insignificant islands.
In the year 1710, three English ships arrived on the coast of
California, and our squadron on that station having been separated,
were attacked singly by them. The admiral, whose captain was a
Frenchman, struck without opposition. The other ship, Nuestra Senora de
Begona, Captain Francisco de Angulo, being deficient of his complement
of men, and even those in a sickly state, after a gallant resistance,
was compelled to retire. Our loss on this occasion was eight killed
and eight wounded. Our galleon mounted twenty-four guns and twenty
patereros, and the largest English ship thirty-six; the second
twenty-four, and the third twenty-two guns. The King, irritated by
this disgraceful loss, severely censured the Viceroy for his imprudence
in confiding a Spanish ship of war to the command of a stranger.
On the 4th of February, 1715, deeply regretted by all, after an
administration of five years, died the Conde de Lizarraga, and the
Oidor Torralba succeeded him ad interim. He rendered himself extremely
useful to the colony in casting artillery, and in other public works;
but he had the misfortune to be on very indifferent terms with his
colleagues in office. Senor Pavon, who had been divested of his
office by the concurrence of the Royal Audience, in the views of
Senor Torralba, appealed to his Sovereign, who acquitted him, and
permitted him to return to his office. The royal order to this effect
arrived during the governorship, ad interim, of Senor Torralba, who
refused to put it into execution, and so persecuted Senor Pavon, that
he compelled him to take refuge in the convent of St. Augustine. He
likewise proceeded, in a most hostile manner, against the Oidor Villa,
on a most ridiculous pretext.