LETTERS FROM GENERAL DRAPER TO EARL OF EGREMONT
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 southern Department[1]
Manila Novr. 1st. 1762
My Lord
I do myself the Honour of sending Lieut. Colonel Scott late adjutant General to inform you of the success of his Majesty’s arms in the conquest of manila,[2] and the Cession of the Phillipin Islands to the British Throne, on the 6 of October, we took that Capital by storm, wherein nothing could equal the conduct & bravery of the officers & Troops—but their moderation afterwards notwithstanding the great Provocations to Exert all the severities & Rigours of war, as my secretary Lieut. Fryer had been murdered with a Flag of Truce but British Humanity was superior to vengeance the Troops considered rather how Englishmen should act than what the spaniards ought to suffer they received all the suppliants to Mercy: as the Distruction of so fine a City was not the object of the War, Admiral Cornish & I Dictated the inclosed Conditions to the Governour & Chief Magistrates they were most readily accepted & we flatter ourselves that the Term’s, considering their situation were as moderate for them as Beneficial for us, the East India company is to have a third part of the Ransom.
In obedience to his majesty’s Commands, I have delivered up Manila & the port of Cavite to the Gentlemen appointed to receive them in behalf of the Company with all the Cannon ammunition and Warlike stores found therein, according to the inclosed Lists, the Kings Goodness has granted them one of the richest Cities & Islands in the World, in Fertility & every other blessing of nature not inferiour to any belonging to the British Crown, if the turn of affairs in Europe can perpetuate Possession it may prove a source of Commerce & wealth not to be equalled in any other port of the Globe; the season of the year & the Condition of the squadron will not permit Mr. Cornish to take Possession of the subordinate Islands that have been ceded to his Majesty, till the ships are repaired the admirals zeal for his Majesty’s service & his great & essential service to us, during the whole course of the Expedition & fatiguing operations of the siege are beyond all praise all the other officers of His squadron Exerted themselves to the utmost upon [e]very occasion, the Captains Collins Pitchford and George Ourry who commanded the corps of five hundred seamen, whom the admiral was so obligeing to support me with behaved with the greatest spirit & good Conduct, & were of singular use to us their men and the marines behaved with their usual activity Life and Intrepedity.
In my letters from Madrass & their Duplicates I took the Liberty to inform your Lordship how much I depended upon the great abilities of Colo. Monson for the success of the Interprize; the Reduction of the place has been so much owing to his Consumate skill & Bravery that it would be doing him the highest Injustice not to name him in a particular manner I blush to give him orders & most humbly beg leave through your Lordship to recommend him to his Majesty & shall esteem my own poor services most abundantly rewarded by any mark of the Royal favour to him and the following Gentlemen. Lt. Colo. Scott, Major Barker, who Commanded the artillery, Captain Stevenson chief Engineer (with majors Cotsford & Barnard) Captain Fletcher major of Brigade my nephew Captn. moore Captain Pemble aides de camp they have all acted in their several departments with such great merit as much facilitated my good fortune the two Corps of his Majesty’s & the Company’s artillery & their other Troop’s behaved Exceeding well. In the last place I beg leave to represent the services of my own Regiment which under the good conduct of their former & Present field officers, the Majors Fell and Drake, has the Peculiar merit of having first stop’d the Progress of the French in India, turned and decided the fate of the War there, and Carry’d the Glory of his majesty’s arms to the utmost verge of Asia, seventy three officers & above eight hundred men have fallen the victims of their own vallour & the cause of the Publick, since the Regiment left England, besides the numbers who have been wounded the widows & orphans Occasioned by this severe service are very numerous, Your Lordships goodness encourages me to mention them as objects of Compassion
I am My Lord with the greatest respect
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