Counterpart signed by
Rear Admiral Cornish
and
Brigadier General Draper
[1] Lord Egremont was a man of small ability who succeeded Pitt as secretary of state. See Hunt’s Political History of England (New York and London, 1905), x, p. 32. [↑]
[2] Le Gentil (ii, pp. 264, 265), says that the British made many mistakes in the expedition against Manila. They should, he says, have first seized the posts about Manila, and the city would have fallen of its own accord because of its weakness, without the necessity of a siege; and in addition the “Filipino” would not have been able to escape. Another mistake was made in allowing Anda to form his army.
The following communications are interesting as showing the diplomatic side of the British expedition against Manila. These letters all bear the same pressmark as the present document (all being contemporary government copies of the real originals), and are to be found at folios 15–16 verso, 23, 23 verso, 33 verso, 34, and 45.
21 Janry 1763
To Gover. Crommelin
Sir
As it is my duty to acquaint his majesty’s principal Secretary of State with all important Transactions in which his majesty’s Troops in this part of the World are concerned. I beg leave to request you will send me the Paragraph of the Letter relative to the Capture of Manila that I may transmit it to England by this opportunity. I also request you will order the Packet to be kept open until you have received my Letter which shall be sent as soon as possible. Had I been acquainted with this sooner, I should not have troubled you to detain the Packet.