Note 16 — DRAPER’S DEFENSE

A letter written to the London Chronicle, and published in that paper, for the issue of December 27–29, 1764, no. 252, p. 618, attests the humanity of General Draper. The writer, an eyewitness of the storming of Manila, asserts that Draper took very careful precautions to avoid the excesses that are liable to occur at such a time, with the miscellaneous troops under his command. As soon as the capitulation was in force, the chief men of Manila were allowed to retire into the country to escape possible contagion from the carnage. The writer denies any personal motive for the declaration, as he was really at Manila against his will, and has no connection with army or navy. “The following is nearly an exact list of the troops, that were employed on that expedition: 500 regulars, Mr. Draper’s own regiment; 250 Marines; 500 seamen; 600 Seapoys (black troops); 250 French, who, to be free of a prison, had entered into the Company’s service—a total of 2,100. The increasing these to 4000, and representing them as let loose to every degree of rapine, after the capitulation, are both equally unjust, and carry their conviction; nor can there be any greater evidence of Mr. Draper’s humanity and presence of mind, than that with such a body of troops he should restrain their impetuosity at such a period.” If the Spaniards fail in paying the ransom, they should surrender the city in the condition in which it was at the time of the surrender. ↑