from these [in Manila], has the least stipend [been given] to the
four subjects in Samboangan ... treasury, by royal decree, that they
be paid here, and from those of here, for ... in order to pay from
the treasury of Mexico. Consider, your Reverence, what must be the
condition of this po[or] province.
There is another war declared, in which Señor Galban has unfurled
the banner against [the] pious [funds]. He declares that the pious
funds are the ruin of [trade] and of the islands; as if the trade
of the islands had any other foundation. I, ... procurator, have
come to the opinion that God is abandoning this His kingdom; ... I
doubt that on other occasions, there may have been greater or equal
mi[sfortunes], but surely, the ministers of the king, our sovereign,
must have had more application and better intentions. It might be
that Señor Cegado has them, since he is ... it. They pass no measure
that is not intended for the ruin, and tell ... the liberty in which
they live, would be to paint a detesta[ble] and scandalous community.
Against us in particular, is aroused a very perplexing storm,
... the case, that in the college of Manila, a [mis]sion was held
during Lent. On the next to the last day, Father Puch explained the
seventh command[ment] and named the kinds of robbers that existed. He
named alcaldes-[mayor?] of provinces, adding what St. Xavier said of
these at seeing ... that they received the decree deleantur de libro
viventium. [211] On the ... day, while I was resting, I received a
bloodthirsty denunciation from Señor Galban, which I [sho]wed to Father
Puch, who explained on Sunday afternoon in great-detail what I have
mentioned, and what he ought to say. But on the third day, I received a
royal provision passed by an extraordinary meeting of the assembly, in
[which] they told [me] to censure Father Puch who was to be ordered to
give sat[isfaction] to the royal assembly, and to the public for the
excesses committed upon the alcaldes-mayor. The last two days of the
mission, I formed their ... assessorship at the university of Santo
Thomas, and at four of the ... all acquitted, and I with them, Father
Puch. Thereupon, I presented myself before the royal assembly on the
twenty-seventh [of] March, and they have been silent until now. They
gave the matter for review to the fiscal, who presented himself in
person on the seventeenth of May with a fiscal review, in which he
censures and reproves my conduct, and reproves and censures that
of Father Puch. He censures all the religious orders, for, he says,
we are all united in incriminating the alcaldes-mayor; that there is
no obedience to the king in the islands; that the religious are the
masters of the islands, despotic, tyrannical, cruel. He requests the
royal assembly to reproduce before the king our sovereign, the memorial
of Palafox against the religious, and that secular priests be assigned
to the ministries; and that although the provision taken in the royal
assembly ought to be urged on me, and although another ought to be
despatched against the Dominicans, already the conspiracy of all the
religious is known, and that the royal assembly will obtain nothing
more than disrespect, disobedience, and insults, and that it will be
best to inform the king, our sovereign, of everything, passing by my
petition of testimony made in triplicate in order that I might have
recourse to his Majesty. I have seen nothing, and have been informed
of nothing. Thereupon, I sought my remedy, and have recourse with
three testimonies to the king, our sovereign. I greatly fear, however,
that the matter will be neglected in Madrid, and the connivance of
our procurators; but for this I also ask the remedy farther on.
A boat was built in Pangasinan in order that it might be sent to
Nueva España. It was launched in the middle of May in a river, but
it could not get out because of the bar. Means are being discussed,
hopes abound, but it is now considered impossible for a voyage to
be made this year. The "Santa Rosa" was expected at the end of May,
but we are sure that there will be no voyage unless one of the ships
from the mainland is bought. If the "Santa Rosa" brings no money we
must all go to live in Visayas and Tagalos. To this point have I come,
today, June 17. If there is anything to add later, I will add it in
a separate paragraph, or in another letter.
The "Santa Rosa" arrived July 3, with the new governor. The "Santa
Rosa" is being prepared for its return trip to México, for the ship
of Azevedo has not arrived, and is not expected, although it left
the bar on the third of this said month. The boat of Misamis is
being equipped for México. I do not consider it necessary to give
instructions to your Reverence, for I expect that without them,
you will perform the duties of your post fully, and our friendship.
Santa Cruz, July 20, 1765.
Your Reverence's most affectionate servant,
Bernardo Pazuengos (rubric)
[Addressed: "My Father Procurator-General, Joaquin Mesquida."]
REFERENCES
Accounts of the capture and occupancy of Manila, and contemporaneous
events, will be found in the following:
1. Vivar, Pedro del, O.S.A.--Relación de los alzamientos de la ciudad
de Vigan, cabecera de la provincia de Ilocos, en los años de 1762 y
1763. Composed in 1764; published as part of vol. iv, of Biblioteca
Histórica Filipina. An account of the insurrections of Diego Silán
and Nicolás Cariño.
2. Castro, Agustin Maria de, O.S.A.--Reseña sobre la guerra de los
ingleses ca. 1765. MS. in Augustinian archives, Manila; and a copy
of which is owned by Eduardo Navarro, O.S.A., at Valladolid. Cited
by Montero y Vidal, and by Pérez (Catálogo).
3. Le Gentil de la Galaisière, Guillaume Joseph Hyacinthe Jean
Baptiste.--Voyage dons les mers de l'Inde (Paris, 1779-1781), ii,
chapter ii, articles xvii and xviii, pp. 230-275. This book contains
the Journal of Archbishop Rojo concerning the siege. Le Gentil
criticises the method of the British operations; and influenced by
his friendship for Rojo's nephew passes a severe criticism on Anda,
which has caused him in turn to be criticised by the Spaniards.
4. Malo de Luque, Eduardo (pseudonym of Duke of Almodovar).--Historia
política de los establecimientos ultramarinos de las naciones europeas
(Madrid, 1784-1790), v, chaps. ix, and x, pp. 234-310. Contains many of
the original documents and letters connected with the conquest period.
5. Martinez de Zúñiga, Joaquin, O.S.A.--Historia de las Islas
Philipinas (Sampaloc, 1803), chaps. xxxiii-xxxvii, pp. 601-687. Treats
of siege, capture, insurrections, operations of Anda, and the peace.
6. Mas, Sinibaldo de.--Informe sobre el estado de las islas Filipinas
(Madrid, 1843), i, no. 2. Uses preceding authorities largely.
7. Buzeta, Manuel, O.S.A., and Bravo, Felipe, O.S.A.--Diccionario
(Madrid, 1850), ii, pp. 289-291. A very short and unsatisfactory
account.
8. Ferrando, Juan, O.P.--Historia de los PP. Dominicos en las islas
Filipinas (Madrid, 1871), iv, chaps. viii-x, pp. 611-742; v, chap. i,
pp. 1-25. Contains Dominican history and general account of the
conquest, etc.
9. Montero y Vidal, José.--Historia general de Filipinas, ii,
chaps. i-iii, and part of iv, pp. 7-119; and portion of appendix, where
he gives various documents of conquest period. Uses foregoing freely.
10. Jordan de Urries, Pedro, marqués de Ayerbe.--Sitio y conquista
de Manila por los Ingleses en 1762 (Zaragoza, 1897). Based on
ordinary authorities, and especially on an unpublished MS. written
by Alfonso Rodríguez de Ovalle, to the marqués de Cruillas, ancestor
of the marqués de Ayerbe, which is conserved in the library of the
latter. Ovalle sailed on the "Santa Rosa" with royal despatches
notifying the city of Manila of the treaty of peace between Spain
and England. While in the Philippines, he wrote a minute journal,
accompanying it with plans and statistics, of the late events in
Manila and the provinces. The dates of this journal are September 13,
1762-March 13, 1764.
11. Diez Aguado, Manuel, O.S.A.--Biografia del P. Agustín Ma. de
Castro, Agustino (Barcelona, 1902). This contains a short account
of the siege and capture of Manila. It is drawn in large part from
Augustinian sources. The author has had the benefit also of manuscript
material possessed by Augustinian friars in his convent at Valladolid,
some of which manuscripts were written by Castro. [212]
12. War Department.--Annual Report, 1903 (Washington, 1903),
iii, appendix ix, pp. 435-454. Part i, Historical sketch of the
walls of Manila, compiled and written under direction of various
U. S. military officers. Part ii, translation of chapter ii,
of no. 10, by Capt. A. C. Macomb, 5th U. S. Cavalry; rather free
translation. Contains many half-tone reproductions of Manila walls
and fortifications.
13. MSS. in the Archivo general de España, at Simancas; estado
6958.--Concerning the capture, sack, capitulation, and surrender
of Manila, the propositions of the English, its recovery, etc.;
1762-1765. This contains also the documents regarding the capture of
the "Santissima Trinidad." This legajo contains much correspondence
from the Spanish minister in England; and a number of letters written
in English. Legajo 6954 is dated "London, 23 de Sept. 1763;" and
treats of the restitution of the Philippines.
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA
The following documents are obtained from the original MSS. in the
British Museum:
1. Plan of an expedition.--Jure Empt. 19, 298; Plut. CLII. E.
2. Letter to Lord Anson.--Hardwicke papers; Vol. DL. Navy papers,
1693-1779; Add. 35, 898; fol. 278, 279.
3. Letters to Earl of Egremont (letter of Nov. 1).--East India military
letters; Add. 5939; fol. 80 verso--82 verso.
The following are taken from Scots Magazine for 1763; from a copy
belonging to the library of the Wisconsin Historical Society:
4. Letters to Clevland.--Pp. 232-235.
5. Letters to Earl of Egremont (letter of Nov. 2).--Pp. 225-227; the
third set of "Proposals" are taken from Draper's A plain narrative
(pp. 27-30).
6. Draper's Journal.--Pp. 227-232.
One document is from Le Gentil's Voyage, from a copy belonging to
the library of the Wisconsin Historical Society:
7. Rojo's Journal.--ii, pp. 232-235, 236, 237-239, 241, 242, 243-247,
248-252, 255-259.
The following are from MSS. in the Ayer Collection:
8. Anda and the English invasion.--From MS. (copy of 1765), entitled
"Documents for the history of the invasion and war with the English
in Filipinas, 1762-1764."
9. Rojo's narrative.--From original MS., entitled "Operations in
Manila."
10. Synopsis of letter to Cárlos III.--From Ventura del Arco
transcripts, iv, pp. 641-649.
11. Letter to Cárlos III.--From Ventura del Arco transcripts, iv,
pp. 597-620.
12. Synopsis of communications to Cárlos III.--From Ventura del Arco
transcripts, iv, pp. 621-640.
The following are from the original MSS. in the Archivo general de
Simancas, all bearing pressmark "Secretaría de Gracia y Justicia;
leg. 691."
13. Letter to Gonzalez.
14. Letter to Rueda.
15. Letter to Mesquida.
One is from two small bound pamphlets belonging to the Ayer Collection:
16. Draper's defense.--I. A plain narrative (London,
1764?). II. Colonel's Draper's answer to the Spanish arguments
(London, 1764).
17. References.--Editorial compilation of titles.
NOTES
[1] This paragraph was canceled by its author. A sidenote reference
at this point is to San Antonio's Cronicas de ... San Gregorio.
[2] Probably the island of Busuañga, the largest of the Calamianes
Group; spoken of previously as Buvugan.
[3] A sidenote reference at this point is to Colin's Labor evangelica,
and San Antonio's Cronicas.
[4] The Manila galleon captured by Anson, whose real name was
"Nuestra Señora de Cabadonga." See the account of its capture in
Kerr's Hist. and Coll. of Voyages, xi, pp. 489-501.
[5] Opposite this point is a sidenote reference to Colin, apparently
to his Labor evangelica.
[6] i.e., The island of Siquijor. Ylog is probably for Ilong, and Sily,
for Silay.
[7] i.e., Magendanao, or Mindanao.
[8] See VOL. XLIII, appendix, and notes.
[9] It is known that Draper when in Canton suggested the conquest
of the Philippines (see note 12, post), and was ordered to outline
his plan fully. That fact suggests that the present document is the
fuller outline, and hence that Draper is its author.
[10] Facts regarding Samuel Cornish are few. In 1743, when captain of
the fifty-gun ship "Guernsey," he destroyed a Spanish privateer of
twenty-two guns, which had taken shelter under an eight-gun battery
near Cape de Gatt. He also performed numerous other services of
the same kind, and took and destroyed a fleet of zebecks laden with
provisions. In 1756 he was captain of the "Stirling Castle," a vessel
carrying 480 men, most of them the refuse of jails and the scum of
the streets. In 1759 he was sent with reënforcements to the East
Indies, in the "Lenox," Captain Robert Jocelyn commanding, where he
was reënforced in 1760 with five ships. He was at the reduction of
Pondicherry in 1760, and at the reduction of Mahe in 1761. Thence
he went to Bombay to refit, and went to meet Commodore Keppel for
the attack of Bourbon and Mauritius, although these orders were
later changed. His promotions are as follows: captain, 1742; rear
admiral (white), 1759, (red), 1761; rear admiral (blue), 1762, (red),
1770. He was made a baronet in 1766. His death occurred October 30,
1770. See Allen's Battles of British navy (London, 1878), i, pp. 147,
148; Clowes's Royal Navy (Boston and London, 1898), iii, pp. 23, 196,
240, 565.
[11] The war with Spain came partly as a consequence of the so-called
"Family compact" signed between France, Spain, Naples, and Parma,
at Versailles, August 25, 1761. England declared war against Spain,
January 2, 1762. The diplomatic history of this period is especially
tortuous.
[12] Sir William Draper was the son of a collector of customs of
Bristol, where he was born in 1721. He received his education at
Eton and King's College, Cambridge. Entering the military service,
he went to the East Indies, where he entered the services of the East
India Company, attaining the rank of colonel in 1760. In 1761 he was
promoted to the rank of brigadier-general for the expedition to Belle
Isle. When in Canton, China, whither he went for his health after
the defense of Madras in 1759, he took occasion to study conditions
in the Philippines, and learned that the Spaniards had no fear of
attack since they were so far from Europe. He communicated plans to
Lord Anson and Lord Egremont for their conquest at the first rumors
of war with Spain, and was ordered to outline his plan fully. The
colors taken at the storming of Manila were given by him to King's
College, where they were hung in the chapel. When the 79th regiment
was reduced he was given command of the 16th regiment of foot, but
resigned that post. His health rendered it necessary for him to retire
to South Carolina, in 1769, and while in America he made a tour of
the colonies. In 1769 he married the daughter of Chief-Justice Lancey
of New York, by whom he had one daughter. He had reached the rank of
lieutenant-general in 1779 when he was appointed governor-general of
Minorca, which office he held until the surrender of that island. His
death occurred January 8, 1787, while in retirement at Bath. See New
and general biographical dictionary (London, 1798), v, pp. 146, 147;
Chalmers's Biographical dictionary (London, 1813), xii, pp. 316-318;
Rose's New general biographical dictionary (London, 1848), vii,
pp. 138, 139; and Campbell's Lives of British Admirals (London, 1817),
v, pp. 175, 176.
[13] The churches taken by the English and used as forts before the
assault were afterward demolished by them in order that the Spaniards
might not make use of them for like purpose against them (Montero y
Vidal's Historia, ii, p. 15, note 1).
[14] Had our men taken thought to prevent the disembarking, perhaps
they could have driven the enemy back, for they disembarked on a
day when the waves were high and when there was a heavy surf, which
overturned a lancha carrying a cannon of the caliber of eighteen. All
its men fell into the water, and its equipment was rendered almost
useless. Their men left the other lanchas with the water up to their
breasts carrying their muskets and cartridge-boxes on their heads. Amid
this discomfort, two hundred men reached the beach. They immediately
formed ranks and allowed the others to disembark more quietly. See
Martinez de Zúñiga's Historia, pp. 604, 605.
[15] i.e., The small island of Cahayagan, at the west entrance to
port of Palápog, north of Samar Island.
[16] The "Panther" carried sixty-four guns, and the "Argo" thirty. See
Montero y Vidal, ii, p. 15.
[17] During the gale, the chief boat of the English, which was
trying to disembark troops on the beach at Tondo, was obliged to
give up the attempt because of the fire that was directed from the
fort of Santiago. This ship would have been surely lost, had not
the archbishop, confused and lacking good advice, ordered a complete
cessation of firing from the citadel. See Montero y Vidal, ii. p. 23.
[18] This officer, later a subordinate admiral, was in 1782 in command
of the "Royal George," a three-decker of 108 guns, generally extolled
as the finest ship in the British navy. While preparing for the relief
expedition to Gibraltar under Admiral Howe, and while the vessel was
heeled over for some trifling repairs, a sudden squall caught it,
filling it with water, so that it sank with all on board, scarcely
a person being saved. The wreck long obstructed the anchorage at
Spithead. See Yonge's History of British navy, i, pp. 392, 393.
[19] This letter is published in the following eighteenth-century
magazines: London Gazette of April 16-19, 1763, from which this letter,
as well the other letters published by them, were taken by the other
magazines; London Chronicle, xiii, no. 986, April 19-21, 1763, pp. 379,
380; Gentleman's Magazine, xxiii, pp. 177-179; London Magazine, xxxii,
pp. 219-221; Dublin Magazine, 1763, pp. 255-257; Universal Magazine,
1763, pp. 206-208; and vol. ii of The Field of Mars, 1781.
[20] i.e., The Naranjos Group lying in the strait of San Bernardino,
south of Sorsogon, and consisting of six small islands: San Andres,
Medio, Escarpada, Aguada, Dársena, and Rasa.
[21] Its artillery was in the hold, and it only carried above hatches,
five cannons of the caliber of eight, and four of the caliber of
four. Notwithstanding this surprise, the unfortunate condition of
the vessel, and the formidable force of the English, its commander,
who was a Gallego, and the other Spaniards who were aboard it, as if
they knew what had happened in Manila, and were of a mind to vindicate
the luster of their fatherland, there at stake, fought desperately,
and received 1,700 balls of the caliber of 18 and 24. Thirty-five
of the English were killed and eighteen Spaniards in addition to the
wounded. The ship after being captured was towed to Cavite, where it
arrived November 12, 1762. The silks, spices, gold dust, and other
effects that it contained, were worth 2,000,000 pesos fuertes. See
Montero y Vidal, ii, pp. 16, 17, note 2.
"The Holy Trinity ['Santisima Trinidad'], a rich galleon, taken at the
Manilas by Adm. Cornish, arrived in Plymouth Road, June 9, commanded
by Lieut. Mainwaring Wilding." (Scots Magazine, 1764, xxvi, p. 348.)
"The Santissima Trinidad, the galleon which was taken in her voyage
to Acapulco during the siege of Manila, is now advertised for sale at
Plymouth. This ship is one of the largest ever seen in Britain. She
is upwards of 2000 tons burthen; the gun-deck measures 167 feet 6
inches; the breadth, 50 feet 6 inches; the depth of the hold from
the poop-deck, 30 feet 6 inches; and her draught of water when she
arrived at Plymouth was 28 feet." (Ut supra, p. 515.)
"On the 14th of August, the great cause of the Manila ship, Santissima
Trinidad, was determined by the lords of appeals for prizes, the
sentence affirmed, and the Spanish claim wholly rejected." (Ut supra,
1765, xxvii, p. 493.)
[22] Also published in London Gazette, April 16-19, 1763; London
Chronicle, 1763, pp. 380, 381; Gentleman's Magazine, 1763, p. 179;
London Magazine, 1763, p. 221; Dublin Magazine, 1763, pp. 257, 258;
Universal Magazine, 1763, pp. 208, 209.
[23] Lord George Anson was descended from a family long established
in Staffordshire, and was born at Shugborough manor, in the parish
of Colwich, April 23, 1697. Choosing the sea as his career, he became
second lieutenant May 9, 1716. In 1718 he took part in the action near
Sicily in which the Spanish fleet was destroyed. The years 1724-27 he
spent in a naval position in South Carolina, erecting there the town
Anson Bourgh, and giving name to a county. He made two other trips to
South Carolina, where he had acquired considerable property. On the
outbreak of hostilities with Spain in 1739, he was chosen commander
of the fleet to attack the Pacific Spanish-American settlements, and
while engaged in this mission made his celebrated circumnavigation
of the world, capturing the Philippine galleon on June 20, 1743. He
arrived at England, June 15, 1744, after many dangers, in which he
displayed great hardihood and courage. Shortly after his return,
he was made a rear-admiral of the blue, and soon after that was
elected to Parliament. December 27, 1744, he was appointed one of
the commissioners of the admiralty, and April 23, 1745 was made a
rear-admiral of the white. July 14, 1746 he was appointed vice admiral,
and during that and the succeeding year performed many services for
his country. June 13, 1747, he was appointed to the peerage. Most of
the rest of his life was passed as a member of the admiralty board,
he finally becoming its head, having attained the rank of admiral. He
died June 6, 1762, so that the letter written by Cornish never reached
him, being written indeed some months after that event. See New
and general biographical dictionary (London, 1798), i, pp. 389-391;
Chalmers's General biographical dictionary (London, 1812-1817), ii,
pp. 294-311; Rose's New general biographical dictionary (London,
1848), ii, pp. 489-500; Barrow's Life of George Lord Anson (London,
1839); and the various editions of his Voyages.
[24] Le Gentil (Voyage, Paris, 1781, ii, pp. 247, 248), says of these
Frenchmen: "The English, on arriving at Manila, had with them about
three hundred and fifty Frenchmen, enrolled by force. These people
formed a plan to desert them at the first opportunity. The English
had not yet finished their battery, when the little French troop sent
two trusty men to confer with the place and to agree with them for
a sortie, during which the French troop would take the side of the
Spaniards. Two men were sacrificed; they went without weapons, their
arms crossed, to present themselves at the gate of the city. Instead of
opening it to them, they were allowed to be massacred by the Indians
who did not know them. At Manila, innumerable chimerical ideas have
been formed as to the sudden arrival of these two men. But what can
two men who come without weapons and with crossed arms to present
themselves at the gate of a city do? What is there to fear from them to
refuse to receive them? I believe that they were taken for English at
Manila, and that a poorly understood religious motive was the reason
for the very great fault of not opening the gate to them. Whatever it
was, this treatment did not engage others to sacrifice themselves. But
the English, having some doubt of some resolution on the part of
the French, put it out of their power to attempt anything to their
prejudice, by placing them between the Sepoys and their national
troops, with orders to fire on these French, if they were seen to
comport themselves differently than the others."