The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898; Volume 49: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898; Volume 49: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
[A manifesto or edict published by the British government in Manila
under date of June 6, and sent to Anda, "former auditor of the royal
Audiencia and supposed governor of the Filipinas Islands," threshes
the whole matter over again. The acts of the British are carefully
excused of all cruelty, while on the other hand, the inhumanity and
cruelty of Anda and his troops are proved clearly to the satisfaction
of the English. The latter are called pirates and robbers by Anda, but
the term is misapplied; for the British did not take a just vengeance
for the death of one of their officers who was killed under the white
flag. Anda has been, and is, a rebel to the king of Spain, for he has
not regarded the commands of the archbishop, the rightly constituted
Spanish representative of Spanish sovereignty. The archbishop has
never made public the commission with which Anda claims that he left
the city. What more are Anda's men than canaille (a name to which Anda
objects), for they are rebels to the proper authority, and are made up
of vagabond Indians, robbers, and murderers, and some few deserters who
are captained by some irreligious friars, and some persons who broke
their word of honor not to take up arms against the British? Anda has
not scrupled to reward murderers by political offices and money. The
British manifesto offers five thousand pesos for the capture of Anda,
but stipulates that he is to be kept alive. Anda is trying to seduce
the natives and set them against peace and order. If his armed bands
continue, it will result in the shedding of much blood and in the
destruction of the country, for Anda can never drive out and defeat
the English, and reconquer Manila. Even if the city is returned to the
Spaniards, it must either be left to the natives or reconquered from
them by the Spanish king. Auditor Galban, the fiscal, Leandro Viana,
and the marquis of Monte Castro, and many others, have broken their
word of honor and have gone over to Anda. This is a violation of a
most sacred oath. It cannot be excused by saying that the British have
broken their promises, for their promises had nothing to do with the
word of honor given by the Spanish prisoners of war. Anda is breaking
the rights of nations by receiving and welcoming such violators of
their word. Even Villacorta, the only auditor who remains in the city,
has long been holding traitorous communications with the rebels. [107]
In spite of all these things, and the non-fulfilment of the Spaniards
to pay the two million pesos in cash of the four settled upon for
their ransom (failing even to pay the one million which the British
consented to take in cash, because the Spaniards have not given as
freely as they can), the British have ever treated them with the
honor characteristic of the English nation. The peace of the islands
has been prevented by the conduct of the Spaniards.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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