It is proposed the Ships shall proceed from Missamis to Zebu the reduction of which City will be a matter of equal Facility & Importance as the Fort is very inconsiderable close to the Sea without Ditch & the Garrison according to the Spanish writers a Compy of 100 Guichenangas & another of Pampangas & Cagayans tho it appears that it is now even more inconsiderable. Adjoining to Zebu is Bohol now in rebellion & said to be apostatized certainly they have murderd & ejected at least some of the Fathers they are considered as of the same Original as the Sooloos & are held the Bravest of the Philipinas. Such Circumstances evince not only the Facility of a Confederacy with them but of the Consequence of this in making a Divission against the Spaniards & protecting the Conquerd Islands to which it may not be improper to observe that some time ago the Boholons offerd if the King of Spain would remit the Tribute that they would protect at their own Charge all the Bissayas which Proposal was however neglected.
There is a Ship at Sooloo which may have good Consequences we mean redeeming with Captives as may be found useful as Guides in the different districts of the Bissayas.
The reduction of Zebu should terminate the action of the Europe Ship which should then proceed to China with her Cargo & on her return call at Manila to Convey the Sultan if he can not be sent sooner. The operation of the other Vessells should be directed towards the reduction of Leyte & Samar which are destitute of Forts & which are solely under the Jurisdiction of the Jesuits.
The N. E. Monsoon is the most convenient time for the attack of Ylo Ylo unless a Detachment could be made from Magendanao. The reduction of Pany is an important Object in two Lights as a Granary to the Bissayas in general & therefore a Security for their Submission & as a Place from whence all our Possessions & even Manila itself may have resource. However the Junction of Bohol & the Moors seem to require the Zebu Rout.
[At the beginning of this document is written the date “23 Novr. 1762,” probably the date of the receipt of this plan in London.[9]]
[1] This paragraph was canceled by its author. A sidenote reference at this point is to San Antonio’s Cronicas de … San Gregorio. [↑]
[2] Probably the island of Busuañga, the largest of the Calamianes Group; spoken of previously as Buvugan. [↑]
[3] A sidenote reference at this point is to Colin’s Labor evangelica, and San Antonio’s Cronicas. [↑]
[4] The Manila galleon captured by Anson, whose real name was “Nuestra Señora de Cabadonga.” See the account of its capture in Kerr’s Hist. and Coll. of Voyages, xi, pp. 489–501. [↑]