Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1820-09-19
From the National InteiIigencer.

y -t'-ts yfVHs 6fs DUtItS Ofi
ooardthe Congress Jirigate, to has triena
in Washington.
us. Frigate Congress. off Linsin Island,
Canton Bay, April 9, 1890.
When last wrote TO you we we're
at this place; few days afterwards we
sailed for Manila, where we arrived after
short but boisterous passage. You may
rest assured that SO sudden removal from
2 heather TO christian country from a
land in which the rites Of hospitality are
never practised, 10 one 10 which at least
the semblance Of it is preserved-was to
ils no unpleasant change, and our pleasure
was not little enhanced by the very fat
tering reception we met with. The Gov
ernor treated us 10 the most polite aud
friendly manner, aud did every thing in
bis power to contribute to our accommo-
datiou. II would be quite uninteresting to
enter into particular detailof every tri-
hing matter that was transacted whilst we
we're at Manila; il is enough TO say that
we were supplied with almost every arti-
Gle we were 10 want Of.
"Ihe Governor Of Manila is reputed
TO be.a man Of considerable abilities; he
has for many years resided there, as Vice
Governor, and this is the cond time that
accident has thrown him into command.
Unlike many ofhis predecessors, he seems
Il to have the good Of the colony at heart,
and has done muchtowards alternating the
miseries Of the unhappy Indians, whose
condition under the Spanish yoke is but
little preferable 10 their original savage
4 state Such has been the sbort-sighted
policy of the Spanish government that the
Philippines have never been OF much bene-
fit TO 1t, and they are now burden to it.
Each new Governor has been allowed TO
sit in judgment on the conduct of his
predecessor; and, as they knew that their
administration could not be of very long
duration, their views we're directed more
to- the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of their fortupes
than to the welfare of the people they
were sent to govern. 1t is seldom, also,
that the ecclesiastical and military au-.
thorities are OIL terms of perfect amity.
The Inhabitants of Manila, being COM
posed of Spaniards, Mestizos. Chinese,
and Indians, so opposite aud jarring are
the interests of these various classes, that.
even if the government was on much
more equitable footing than it is, it would
be no easy task to administer its affairs 10
such manner as to give satisfaction to
all. The Offices of the state are filed by
Spaniards; but few ofihem are merchants.
The Mestizos are the principal landhoid-
ers, and conduct the greater part Of the
commercial business. The Chinese carry
on the trade with their own country, aud
are the best mechanics. They are the
most useful, and at the same time the most
dangerous people 10 Manila; they have
often excited instructions which have on
ly been suppressed by great expense of
both money and blood. The Iudians are
In general worthless and lazy, and work
only to prevent starvation. They are
much addicted TO gambling, particularly
cock-fghting, of which the revenue alone
amounts annually to twenty EIGHT thou
sand dollars. But, distinct from all these,
and indeed from the whole humaH race, is
a class Of men whom l have yet to men,
tion.. They are the negroes which are
said to have been the primitive Inhabitants
Of Luconia, who, being driven from the
plains and sea.coast, took refuge 10 the
most mountainous parts Of the Island,
where they now dwell
They seem to have declared eternal
enmity 10. all mankind, and their hatred
Of Indians in particular, is of the most
implacable nature. If one Of them is so
unfortunate as TO fall into the hands Of
the negroes, his chance of life is hopeless.
The power of the church over this
poor people is equal to that possessed by
the church Of Rome over Europeans,
during the time Of the crusades. The
sales Of bulls, indulgencies, and amulets,
form great part Of the ecclesiastical
revenue.
We found at Manila two French
sloops OF war. and number Of American
and French merchantmen.
:" fear that by thisaime you are both
tired Of me and my letter, SO will close
my account Of Manila and its concerns,
by informing you that we left there on the
10th, and arrived at China on the 25ih
OF March; our passage, considering IL
was against the monsoon, was remarkably
quick. The Chinese are still averse to
our remaining in their waters; and about
the time we sailed for Manila grand
Chop was issued by the Vice Roy, stating.
that, as it had been the custom Of DO other
nation but the English to send vessels Of
war 10 convoy merchantmen, SO no other
nation bad right TO do SO now; that Mr..
Wilcocks, who is styled the American
chief, had said that we came here to pro-
tect all the American ships engaged in
this trade bur some Of The ships 90 soon.