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 shore, who immediately drew up in line, covering the landing of the rest. If under these circumstances 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.