The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898; Volume 49

Volume 49 — LETTER FROM ADMIRAL CORNISH TO LORD ANSON

Reading edition

My Lord

It affords me the most sensible pleasure to congratulate you on the success of His Majesty’s Arms in the reduction of Manila with its dependancies.

The possession of the port of Cavita is an acquisition of great Consequence to the Squadron, by which I shall be enabled with a plenty of Stores of all kinds and a Number of Artificers to refit many of the Ships, that in their present condition it would not be safe to proceed with them to Sea; having these advantages together with a good Hospital and plenty of Provisions, I shall be able to give new Health to the People, to proceed from this place with the Squadron, in a better condition than it has been since my Arriving to the command.

I gave Captain Parker an order to Command the Panther, as She was a Clean Ship, and joyn’d the Argo with him to go in quest of the Galleon S^t. Phillipina who was at Cayayagan between the Bocadero & Cape Spirito Santo the 10^th of Sep^t.; and proposed remaining there till the Monsoon was broke up; As Cap^t. Parker was with your Lords^p and is very well acquainted with those Seas I have the most sanguin hopes of his success.

obliged & most humble Serv^t

S^l. Cornish

Norfolk, off Cavita in the Bay of Manila 1^st of Nov^r. 1762.

[Endorsed: “Copy of a Letter from Admiral Cornish to Lord Anson giving an acct. of Taking of the Manila Islands: Nov^r. 1^st, 1762. Rece’d at the Adm^ty. April 14^th, 1763 at night.”]

Notes in this chapter

Note 1 · Lord George Anson was descended from a family long established in Staffordshire, and was born at Shugborough manor, in the parish of Colwich Note 2 · Le Gentil (Voyage, Paris, 1781, ii, pp. 247, 248), says of these Frenchmen: “The English, on arriving at Manila, had with them about three h Note 3 · Scots Magazine for 1763, xxv, p. 235, contains the following in regard to these plates: “They write from London, of April 21, thus. ‘There w Note 4 · I am very sorry to mention that the Company’s Servants at Madrass took every method in their Power to obstruct the expedition, except Mr. Pi Note 5 · For a more particular State of the Squadron I take the liberty of referring your Lordship to Captn. Kempenfelt, whom I send with my dispatch Note 6 · A copy of Brigadier General Draper’s Letter to the Rt. Hoñble The Earl of Egremont his Majesty’s Principal secretary of State for the southe