But their joy was not unmixed with sensations of sorrow; for,
it is reported, over 1500 men, and many gallant officers, were
lost in the assault. The city was then given over to the mercy
of the victorious troops, and a riotous scene of pillage ensued;
many excesses were committed, the Sepoys, in particular, committing
many atrocities. General Draper forthwith gave the command that these
outrages should cease; and guards were at once placed at the doors of
the convents and the nunneries to prevent outrages on the women. A
few thieving Chinamen, who had taken advantage of the confusion to
add to their own profit, were hanged; and the General, it is said,
with his own hand cut down a soldier that he caught stealing after
his inhibition had been proclaimed.
The English now demanded the payment of the stipulated indemnity,
but the enforced contributions from the wealthy inhabitants, with
the silver from the churches--all that the Spaniards professed to be
able to collect--amounted to only a little more than half a million
dollars,--but one-eighth of the stipulated sum. Threat and force
were alike unavailing to produce the other monies promised, although
the friars, it is believed, had secreted immense sums, determined at
all hazards to preserve their accumulated store from the rapacity of
their Protestant enemy.
By the terms of the capitulation the entire Archipelago had been
surrendered to the British; but Simon de Anda, who commanded the
Spanish forces during the siege, had now established himself in
Bulacan as Provisional Governor, in opposition to the authority
of the Archbishop who had bitterly denounced the surrender. The
clergy, however, were the more influential part of the Colonial
Government, and General Draper accordingly treated with them alone,
obtaining their consent to a cession of all the islands to the King
of England. Draper himself then returned to England, leaving behind
a Provisional Military Government.
Admiral Cornish now demanded the payment of the million dollars that
the British had finally decided to accept as full indemnity.
The Spaniard, however, continued to plead poverty, and the money was
not forthcoming. Several thousands of dollars were eventually unearthed
in the convent where the friars had hidden it. The British, though
convinced of the deception that these holy brethren had practised
to save these dollars,--wrung from the hearts of the poor,--were,
however, unable to lay their hands upon the treasure.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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