The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

LONDON, April 19.

Extract of a Letter from Vice Admiral Cornish, to Mr. Cleaveland, dated in the Bay of Manila, the 10th of Nov. 1762.

IN my Letter of the 31st of October, I acquainted you of my having sent Capt. Parker with the Panther and Argo, in quest of the Galleon Saint Philippina, from Acapulco, bound to Manila.

The 7th Instant, Capt. King in the Argo returned with a Letter from Capt. Parker, acquainting me, that in consequence of my orders having on the 30th of October got length of the Island Capul, near the Entrance into the Embocadero, in pursuit of the Saint Philippina, where the Argo had come to an anchor (and which he intended to do for that night) just as the Day closed, saw a Sail, and stood to the Northward; at eight in the Evening he got Sight of the Chase, about two leagues to Leeward, but unluckily by the Rapidity of a counter current to what the chase was in, was drove among the Narangos in the utmost Danger of being lost, and obliged to anchor; the Frigate having escaped the Danger, got up with the chase, and engaged her near two hours; but was so roughly handled, that Capt. King was obliged to bring to to repair his Damages.

By this Time the current slacken'd, which enabled Capt. Parker to get under sail with the chase in sight: about nine the next morning he came up with her, and after battering her two hours within half musket shot, she struck. The enemy made but little resistance; trusting to the immense thickness of the sides of their ship, which the Panther's shot was not able to penetrate, excepting her upper works.

Capt. Parker was no less disappointed than surprised, when the General came on board, to find that, instead of the St. Phillipina, he had engaged and taken the Santissima Trinidad, who departed from Manila the first of August, for Acapulco, and had got 300 leagues to the eastward of the Embocadero: but meeting with a hard gale of wind, was dismasted, and put back to refit. She had eight hundred men on board, and pierced for 60 guns; but when Capt. King engaged her, had only 6 mounted, and but 13 when taken; she drew 33 feet water, and is much larger than the Panther.

I cannot ascertain the value of her Cargo; but there is to the amount of one million and a half of dollars registered, and she is reputed to be worth three millions.

Captain King left the Panther with her prize at an anchor about three leagues south of the Corregidor, at the mouth of this bay; and as I have sent a reinforcement of men with launches and warps I hope very soon to have them in Safety.

I am, &c. S. CORNISH.

Officers killed and wounded, &c. belonging to the Norfolk; Lieut. Peter Porter, and Mr. White, Surgeons Mate killed.

Lenox; Thomas Spearing, Second Lieut. of Marines, wounded.

landed killed wounded men and marines.

Total Officers, Seamen 1017 17 17.

The following is from the New York Gazette:

Extract of a Letter from an Inhabitant of this Town, who has been some Years in India, and was an Officer on board the Norfolk, at the taking of Manilla.

On board the Norfolk, in Manilla Bay, 6th November 1762.

My stay in this Country has been continued a little longer by the News of the War between England and Spain, and our Orders to attack this Place; and as this gave me the best Prospect of Advantage I have had during the War, I resolved to see it out; and thank God we have succeeded to the utmost of our Hopes, and with a very small Loss on our side, are Masters of the Place.

We left Madras the first of August, and arrived here the 24th of Sept. anchoring within three Miles of Cavite, the Sea port of Manilla. As we arrived in the Night, I went in and sounded the Depth of Water, which I found sufficient to bring our Ships within 400 Yards of the Fortification, though I could not then judge exactly of the Distance. but I plainly heard the People talking on Shore. and saw the Centinels. After laying Buoys, I return'd on board without being discovered.

Next Morning the second Officer in Command at Manilla came on board our Ship and desired to know on what Design we came. the Admiral told him of the War between England and Spain, and our Orders to take the Place. He very calmly answered that if we wanted Water or Provisions he would supply us, but would defend the Place to the last Drop of Blood; on which his Boat was discharged, and he went in our Barge with one of the Lieutenants and the Secretary with a Flag of Truce to the General, who was summoned to surrender the Town of Manilla: Soon after. a Lieutenant. an Engineer, and myself. went in the Pinnace to summon the Cavite. and take a fair View of the Buoys I had laid in the Night, which I had the Satisfaction to find were within 200 Yards of the Grand Battery. : At the same Time the Admiral and General went in a Frigate to view the Coast, and find a convenient Landing Place, which having found, they made a Signal for the Squadron. which followed and came to an Anchor. About 9 o'Clock we Summoned the Town of Cavite to surrender, the Governor replied he had 20,000 Men, and Stone Walls round him, and that our Ships Sides were but wood : but that as he was under the Governor of Manilla, he desired 24 Hours to send to him. But the Barge being return'd from Manilla, with the Governor's absolute Refusal to deliver up the Place or Capitulate, about 3 o'Clock we anchor'd within 4 Miles of Manilla. and about 6 landed 800 Regulars and about 400 Marines who took Post at a large Church: about 2 Miles from the Town, where they were not disturbed all Night, the Spaniards being intimidated by the Loss of a few of their Men, who were killed at our landing -

next Day, the 25th of Sept. we landed 1300 Seamen, and some black Troops. General Draper headed the Seamen and advanced towards the Spaniards who lay without the walls, who quickly retired.and the Gen. took post at a Church within 200 Yards of the walls.where he had 11 Pieces of as fine Brass Cannon as ever I saw. The walls of the City. which are Stone, and 28 Feet thick, were well guarded by 10,000 Men : we plied the walls so well with our Small Arms. that the Enemy durst not show their Heads above them : mean while Batteries were erecting behind two small Houses, which on the 5th of October. being completed, the Houses were remov'd: and eight 24-Pounders and 6 Mortars began to play on the Town. as also the Guns from the Elizabeth of 64 Guns,and the Falmouth of 28. which were drawn as near the Town as they could lie, at the Places where : I had placed Buoys for them.

The Night before, the Spanish General sent a Flag to advise us to retreat while we could do it with Honour ; for that he had. got a Reinforcement of Twenty Thousand Foot, and 2000 Horse. and the Country Indians, and as it was their Custom to give no Quarter. they would cut us all to Pieces. In the Night of the 4th they made a Sally from the Town with seven Thousand Men, which put us in some Danger, and killed about 50 of our Men, and wounded as many more, but being soon beat off. they never had Resolution , to sally again. On the 5th a Breach was made in the wall. which on the 6th was mounted 10 Men a Breast, being an equal Number of Soldiers and sailors mixt, which the General had disposed in that Manner, that neither sort should think themselves less honoured or more exposed. About 800 Spaniards, some say 1100 were killed in the City, the Governor and great Men retired to the Citadel. and when they found we had Possession of the Town, hung out a Flag of Truce, but it was some time before the slaughter could be stop'd and Orders carried to the different Parts of the Town.. At last a Capitulation was agreed on, and the Citadel delivered up to us. the Spaniards are to pay Four Million of Dollars -for the Security of their. Persons and Effects, and the Enjoyment of their Religion, but all the King's Vessels and stores to belong to the English, all the Spanish Soldiers to be Prisoners, and all the Philippine Islands, Forts. Garrisons. &c. to submit to the English Government."

Admiral Cornish writes in a Letter dated the 10th of November. that the Panther, Capt Parker, and Argo, Capt. King. had taken on the 21st of October, the Santissima Trinidad. who departed from Manilla the 1st of August for Acapulco, and had got 300 Leagues to the Eastward, but meeting with a hard Gale of wind. was dismasted and put back to refit : he had 800 Men on board. and pierced for 60 Guns. but had only 13 mounted ; he draws 33 Feet water has on board to the amount of one Million and half Dollars registered, she is computed worth Three Millions.