# A Plain Narrative of the Reduction of Manila and the Philippine Islands

A British account of the capture and occupation of Manila in October 1762. No author is given, but it contains documents signed by Samuel Cornish and William Draper.
A
PLAIN
NARRATIVE
OF THE
REDUCTION
OF
MANILA
AND THE
PHILLIPPINE ISLANDS.
A PLAIN NARRATIVE, &c.
The Conquest of Manila, Cavita, and the whole Phillipine Islands, having been of late the Topic of Conversation, from the Crown of Spain’s Refusal to pay the Bills drawn by its Archbishop and Captain-General, in Consequence of the Capitulation; and having Reason to apprehend, that the Public are as ignorant of the Nature and Importance of that Acquisition, as they ​seem to be unacquainted with the Parti­culars relative to the Capitulation, and its Consequences; I think it a Duty in­cumbent on me to set the material Transactions of that Expedition in a proper point of View, as well in Justice to my own Conduct and Character, as to the Officers and Men serving under me; and for the particular Information of the Representatives of the Nation, who have condescended to think our Services deserving their public Appro­bation of our Conduct, in the particular Honour of their Thanks conveyed to us by their Speaker.
Manila is the Metropolis of the Phil­Iipine Islands, situated in a large Bay on the Island of Luconia, in the Latitude 14. 40. North, Longitude 118 East, from London, in Possession of the Spaniards, ​and maintained by the Crown of Spain, at the Request of the Church for pro­pagating the Christian Faith among the Indians, for which they have a large annual Allowance from Mexico, for the Maintenance of their public officers and Clergy, and for the Support of their Convents: They are also indulged with Ships, built and navigated at the King's Expence, to bring the said Allowance in Money: These Ships go laden with Merchandize belonging to the Inhabi­tants (a still further Indulgence allowed them) from Manila to Acapulca, and return with Money: The King’s is registered; and the Remainder (about as much more) a smuggling Trade, and connived at.
This Trade is so very prejudicial to Old Spain, the Cargoes they send being ​China Silks, India Cottons, Spices, &c. for the Use of the People in America, that the Cadiz and Bayone Companies have frequently presented the strongest Memorials and Remonstrances to the King, Setting forth the Damage sustained by it, but without any Success, the Church always getting the better of them. In Consequence of Orders from Eu­rope to attack Manila on the War with Spain, the Squadron and Troops sailed from Madras the First of August, 1762, and arrived in the Bay of Manila the 24th of September sollowing; and aster summoning the Town to surrender, and receiving for Answer their Resolution to defend it, the Troops were immediately landed, and began the Seige. A Breach being made the 6th of October, we stormed and took the City, on which ​the principal Inhabitants retired into the Citadel, but sensible they could not hold it long; sent out a Flag of Truce, de­siring to capitulate. The Terms of­fered were, on paying “Four Millions of Dollars, they were to have their Churches, Convents, Palaces, and other public Buildings, with the Town preserved, and the Plunder­ing stopped, with the free Exercise of their Religion, and other Liber­ties; otherwise to be Prisoners of War, and put on Board the Squadron, and sent to the Coast of India as such.”
These Terms they accepted; and, whilst the Articles were settling, they pleaded their Inability to raise imme­diately the Sum demanded, unless we would admit the Phillipina (which was arrived in the Port of Pallapa, on the ​Island of Semar from Acapulca) into the Capitulation, and the Vice Roy to send Letters to the General that com­manded her, to deliver her up to our Ships, which had been sent after her; to which we assented, on Condition that the said Phillipina was actually in the Port of Pallapa, and delivered up to our Ships in Consequence of the said Letter. This is the only Ship ever ad­mitted into the Capitulation (and that Con­ditionally) and which, instead of being de­livered up, or ordered to proceed to Manila, agreeable to the promised Letter of the Vice Roy, was, by other Letters, privately sent unknown to us, directed not to comply with the Vice Roy's Letter, but to land the Money on the Island where they were, and secure it in the best Manner they could, ​until they should receive further Directions from Manila.
All Things being thus agreed on, the plundering the Town was immediately stopped and the City restored to Order, an Account taken of the Ordnance and military Stores, and the Garrison es­tablished, which took up the whole of the Troops of the Expedition; and the Place (in Obedience to his Majesty’s In­structions) delivered up to the East India Company’s Agent for their Use and Be­nefit, until his further Pleasure should be known. During these Transactions ​the Treasure remaining in the Town (a great deal being conveyed out during the Siege) was collected together, and the principal Inhabitants voluntarily taxed themselves to pay the Remainder as far as two Millions; and if the Phillipina was not to be got at, we were to take Bills on the King of Spain for the other two Millions, which the Captain Gene­ral, or Viceroy (who was also Archbishop) declared he had Authority to draw, and would be duly honoured.
So soon as the Place was in Possession of the East India Company, the Spa­niards perceived the King’s Officers had no further Power over them, and there fore stopped any further Collections towards the Payment; and from the Ex­cess of Lenity hitherto shewn them, soon grew insolent, broke every Part of ​the Capitulation by retiring into the Country and joining Anda, one of the Royal Audience, who had taken up Arms, and proclaimed himself Captain General, while their Priests and Friars publicly exhorted Rebellion, and preach­ed it meritorious to take up Arms and destroy us.
As several of the principal Men of the Place were likewise concerned with him, the Captors were justly apprehen­sive that little or nothing more was to be got by fair Means, and were willing to secure what was still in their Power; and therefore ordered their Agents to bring into the City what Merchandize was belonging to the above Men in the Suburbs, as a Security till they made good their Ransom. But were greatly surprized to find the East India Com​pany’s Governor had placed Guards, and would not suffer the Agents to remove any one Thing, by which the Captors lost upwards of 200,000 Dollars. The Captors therefore to secure what little yet remained in their Power, gave Di­rections to seize, and dispose of a Ship, named the Santa Nino, that lay in the Port of Cavita at the Time of the Town being taken, and placed her Produce to the Account of the four Million (altho’ she was not mentioned or included in the Capitulation.) This was the only Ship taken in the Port, and sold for only 16,000 Dollars, and which the Spaniards have since artfully and jesuitically endea­voured to propagate to be the Santissima Trinidad; ’tis therefore in this Place necessary to make known, that the Santis­sima Trinidad sailed from Manila on the 1st of August, which was upwards of seven ​Weeks before the Squadron arrived there, and had proceeded several hundred Leagues on her Voyage to Acapulca; when meeting with a Storm she was dismasted, and en­deavouring to put back to refit was met with off the Island of Capul by two of our Ships, the Panther and Argo (the two Ships that were detached after the Phillipina) and after an Engagement taken by them, above two hundred Miles from the Port of Ma­nilla, and which Ships knew nothing at that Time of the Surrender or Capitulation of Manila. These two Ships that were sent after the Phillipina (in Consequence of Intelligence obtained by a Gally we took in the Bay soon after our Arrival) ​had got as far as the Island of Capul, in their Way to Palapa, when they met with the Trinidad, and she being much disabled, and having a great Number of Men on Board, they were obliged to re­turn to the Bay of Manila with her; on which, as soon as possible, two Frigates were dispatched again after the Phillipi­na, but before they could reach the Streights of St. Bernardino, the North-East Monsoon was let in, and the Weather too stormy to pass the Streights, and after ten Weeks fruitlessly attempt­ing it, were obliged to return.
The Squadron being obliged (by In­structions on that Head) to return to the Coast of India for the Protection of the East India Company’s Settlements, before the North-East Monsoon was expired, sailed from the Bay of Manila the begin​ing of March, leaving Orders with the Commanding Officer of the Ships left for the Protection of the Place, so soon as the South-West Monsoon prevailed, to proceed to Palapa, in order to take Possession of the Phillipina, who, on his Arrrival, found only the Ship, the Trea­sure having been carried in small Vessels to the Island of Luconia by Orders from the Inhabitants of Manila, who had all this Time amused us with the Promise of the Money of this Ship for Payment, and even sent Men as Hostages in our Ships to get it, notwithstanding they themselves well knew it was removed from that Place. Through the Whole of the above Transactions, the Spaniards by Evasions avoided complying with the Capitulation in every one Respect, ex­cept in the bringing in the Money from the Misericordia and Ordentercara, which ​was out of their Power to secrete. They basely and ungratefully took up Arms against us, after having their Lives given them. They preached publicly in their Churches Rebellion, and meritori­ous to destroy us.
And these People have still further more the Impudence to charge us with an Infringement of the Capitulation, and the Effrontery to claim the Santissi­ma Trinidad, which was taken above 200 Miles from Manila by two of his Majesty’s Ships, who knew nothing of the Surrender of the Place, nor was in any Shape mentioned or included in the Capitulation, having sailed on her Voyage seven Weeks previous to our Arrival, as may be seen by the Capitulation annexed hereto.
​It is true they have given Bills on the King their Matter for Part of the Ran­som, which he does not acknowledge they had a Right to draw, and therefore refuses Payment of. But surely I may with Equity be permitted to add, that as he allows them a very large Sum an­nually for their Support, and has again put the Place into their Possession, is he not bound in Honour and strict Justice to oblige his Subjects to make good their solemn Covenant and Capitulation, hav­ing the Means so fully in his Power?
The Account of Ransom stands correctly thus:
| | dollars | r. | d. | dollars | r. | d. |
| Ranſom agreeable to Capi­tulation | | | | 4,000000 | 0 | 0 |
| Received from the public Funds and Collections | 515,802 | 3 | 10 | | |
| Plunder taken from the Seamen and Soldiers - | 26,623 | 0 | 0 | 542425 | 3 | 10 |
| Remains due to the Captors | | | | 3,457574 | 4 | 2 |
​One third of which is the Proportion belonging to the East India Company.
The King’s Instructions were, if we succeeded in the Conquest of Manila, to deliver up the Fortisications, with the Cannon, Stores and Ammunition, to the East India Company, until his Majesty’s Pleasure should be signified with Regard to the suture Dispositions of the said Conquests, &c.
Upon the Peace, when the Place was delivered up to the Spaniards, the East India Company applied to the Secretary of State for Leave to carry the Artillery and Stores to Madras, but received for Answer, That they must remain for the Defence of the Place; but were after wards told, That if the Spaniards would give Security for the Payment of the Value of them, they were to be left; if ​they would not, the East India Company might remove them to Madrass. This last Answer did not arrive in India till after Orders had been sent to deliver it up, and the Season too late to send that Year.
​Conditions on which the City of Manila shall be preserved from Plunder, and the Inhabitants preserved in their Reli­gion, Goods, Liberties and Properties, under the Government and Protection of his Britannic Majesty.
Art. I.The Spanish Officers of every Rank shall be esteemed as Prisoners of War, upon their Parole of Honour, but shall have the Liber­ty of wearing their Swords; the Rest of their Troops, of every Degree and Quality, must be disarmed, and disposed of as we shall think proper: They shall be treated with Huma­nity.
​II. All the Military Stores, and Maga­zines of every Kind, must be sur­rendered saithsully to our Commis­sary, and nothing secreted or da­maged.
III. His Excellency the Governor must send immediate Orders to the Fort of Cavita, and the other Forts under his Command, and dependant on Manila, to surrender to his Britan­nic Majesty.
IV. The Propositions contained in the Paper delivered on the Part of his Excellency the Governor, and his Council, will be listened to, and confirmed to them, upon their Pay ment of four Million of Dollars, the half to be paid immediately, the other half to be paid in a Time to ​be agreed upon, and Hostages and Security given for that Purpose.
Done in the City of Manila, the 6th of October, 1762. S. CORNISH, WILLIAM DRAPER.
​Proposals made to their Excellencies his Britannic Majesty's Commanders in Chief by Sea and Land, by his Excel­lency the Archbishop, Captain-General of the Philippine Islands, the Royal Audience, the City, and Commerce of Manila.
Art. I.That their Effects and Possessions shall be secured to them, under the Protection of his Britannic Majesty, with the same Liberty they have heretofore enjoyed. Granted.
II. That the Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Religion, be preserved and maintained, in its free Exercise and Functions, by its Pastors and faithsul Ministers. Granted.
​III. That the Families which are re­tired into the Country may have free Liberty to return unmolested. Granted.
IV. That the same Indemnification and Liberty may extend to all Persons of both Sexes, Inhabitants of this City, without any Prejudice or Molestation to their interior Com­merce. Ans. They may carry on all Sorts of Commerce as British Subjects.
V. Having great Confidence in the Manners and Politeness of their Excellencies the Britannic Gene­rals, hope they will use their best Endeavours in preserving Peace and Quietness in the City and Suburbs, ​chastising all People who shall dare to oppose their superior Orders. Granted.
VI. That the Inhabitants of this City may enjoy the same Liberty of Commerce as they have had here­tofore, and that they may have proper Passports granted them for that End. Answered by the 4th.
VII. That the same Liberty may be granted to the Natives of the Coun­try for bringing in all Manner of Provisions, &c. according to their usual Method, without the least Opposition or Extortion, paying for them in the same Manner as hath been heretofore practised. Granted. Any one coming in with Arms will be put to Death.
​VIII. The Ecclesiastical Government may be tolerated, and have free Liberty to instruct the Faithful, especially the native Inhabitants. Ans. They must not attempt to convert any of our Protestant Subjects to the Popish Faith.
IX. That the Use and Exercise of the Oeconomical Government of the City may remain in the same Free­dom and Liberty. Granted.
X. That the Authority, as well politi­cal as civil, may still remain in the Hands of the Royal Audience, to the End, that by their Means a Stop may be put to all Disorders, and the Insolent and Guilty be chastised. Ans. Subject to the superior Controul of our Government.
​XI. That the said Ministers and Royal Officers, their Persons and Goods, may in full Security be maintained in their Houses, with a Stipend sufficient for their Support, his Catholic Majesty being answerable for the same; upon those Condi­tions the above-mentioned Mi­nisters will be under the Protection of his Britannic Majesty, in the same Manner as the rest of the In­habitants. Ans. His Catholic Majesty must pay for their Support.
XII. That the Inhabitants may have free Liberty to reside within, or out of the City, as shall be most convenient for them. Ans. Still subject to the Revo­cation of our Government, if they find it necessary.
​Done at the Head Quarters in the City of Manila, the 7th Day of October, 1762.
S. CORNISH. WILLIAM DRAPER. Man. Ant. Arch, de Manile, Gov. y Cap. Gen. de las Philips. Francisco Henriquez de Villacourte. Manuel Galban y Ventura. Francisco Leandro de Viana.
​Proposals of their Excellencies his Bri­tannic Majesty's Commanders in Chief, which are agreed to by the Most Illustri­ous Governor of these Islands, as like­wise the Royal Audience, the City and Commerce, with the Clergy, both secu­lar and regular.
Art. I.That the Governor would give immediate Orders for delivering up the Port of Cavita, with its Fortifications, which has been executed by an Order to the Castiliana of the said Port, which was shewn to their Excellencies, and sent to the Serjeant Major of the said Port.
II. To satisfy the Four Millions of Dol­lars, which are immediately de­manded by the aforementioned ​Commanders in Chief, all the Capitals of the public Funds, such as the Misericordia, the Ordenter­carra, and the religious Communi­ties, as also what belongs to the Archbishop, which shall be found in being; and what shall be want­ing of the Compliment of the said Four Millions, shall be made up by the Capitals which the said Ship Phillippina shall bring in, with Condition, that if the said Ship should be taken by his Britannic Majesty’s Ships before the Time that the Advice dispatched by his Excellency the Governor shall ar­rive to her, ordering her to come into this Bay; or if the Capital therein should not be sufficient to compleat the said Four Millions, they will give a Bill on his Catho​lic Majesty; and if the said Ship should not be taken with the Ca­pital therein contained at the Time that the Commander of the Ship Phillippina may receive Orders to conduct her here, the whole shall be given up to make up the Sum of Four Millions. But in Case there should not be sufficient to make up the whole Sum, they will give Bills on the Treasury of his Most Catholic Majesty.
In this Manner the said Proposals are agreed to on the Part of his Excellency the Governor and his Council, and con­firmed by their Excellencies the Britan­nic Commanders in Chief, according to the fourth Proposition of their Excel­lencies, bearing Date the 6th Day of October, 1762.
​Signed by the Archbishop and the Ovidores of the City of Manila.
Counterpart signed by Rear Admiral CORNISH, and Brigadier General DRAPER.
* ↑ * If this Ship was not admitted in the Capitulation by any Accident of Non Compliance with the Terms of the Vice Roy’s Letter in that Case, we agreed to take his Bills on the King of Spain, he assuring us they would be duly paid.
* ↑ † The Damage sustained by the Inhabitants before the plundering could be stopped, was estimated and deducted from the Ransom.
* ↑ ‡ Vide Article at the End.
* ↑ * A Spanish Galleon sailing from the Havannah a Month before the Arrival of Sir George Pocock and Lord Albemarle to attack that Place, and taken in her Passage to Cadiz by two English Cruizers off the Canary or Western Islands, might with the same Degree of Equity be claimed by the Spaniards under their Capitu­lation for the Havannah.