CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.ANNO DOM. 1717.The Administration of Don Fernando Bustamante, commonly called the Marshal.The Field-Marshal Don Fernando Bustamante Bustillo y Rueda, late alcalde mayor of Tlascala, in New Spain, took possession of his government on the 9th of August, 1717. He was a man who knew how to make himself obeyed, and the more difficulties he encountered, the more did his resolution impel him to meet them with effect. He began by issuing some strong decrees, and others still more severe were expected. These were principally directed to the recovery of above two hundred thousand dollars, which he foundwere due to the royal treasury by different people, both by those in office, and generally by the public. These parties finding he was determined on the measure, began to murmur at his proceedings. Without, however, allowing himself to be influenced by any consideration of this nature, he laid an embargo on all the silver that came in the galleon from Acapulco, and required from the public functionaries correct statements of their accounts with the royal treasury. By an examination of those names which appeared as owners of the silver, he found it an easy matter to cover all those debts, and by this dexterous management recovered about three hundred thousand dollars to the treasury. Many of those, however, then indebted to the government, having died, or being reduced to poverty, their securities of course became responsible, and this extended the consequences of his measures to so many in Manila, that he became an object ofgeneral hatred, particularly as he went so far as to punish delinquencies by confining individuals as prisoners in their office, and by seizing their property. He ordered the late secretary of Torralba to give an account of what had been received for licences granted to the Chinese, and as this was not complied with, he seized all his effects, and committed him to prison, practising many other acts of severity too numerous to mention.Although these islands had been many years at peace with the Kings of Jolo and Mindanao, yet several pirates of those kingdoms continued to infest our coasts, and yet no redress could be had from the respective Sovereigns, who frankly acknowledged their inability to prevent such irregularities. With a view to correct these abuses, the Governor was desirous of re-establishing the station of Zamboanga, which, in the time of Don Sabiniano Manrique de Lara, had been abandoned throughapprehension of the Chinese pirate Cogseng, who had at that time threatened these islands.This matter was brought before a select committee of the royal works, who decided, by ten against seven, that the station should not be re-established; among other reasons alleging, that it was of no service against the Moors, and that it was supported at the heavy annual expense of twenty-five thousand dollars, answering no other purpose than that of enriching the Governor, whose appointment was from Manila, and for a term of three years. In opposition to the decision of this committee, however, the Governor ordered the works to be re-constructed. This further exasperated the public against him.The Franciscans having requested the Governor to place a garrison in Labo, in the island of Paragua, to protect them from the Moors, he consented to it, and accordingly erected a fort at much less expensethan that of Zamboanga, though as little tending to the public benefit.Don Fernando Bustamante, not satisfied with urging the Spaniards to cultivate commercial connections with the other kingdoms of Asia, was desirous of establishing one with the kingdom of Siam in particular, to whose King he sent a nephew of his own, bearing magnificent presents. He arrived in safety, was received well, and entertained splendidly. He delivered his credentials and presents to the King, and concluded a treaty of friendship, by which the Spaniards were allowed to establish a factory in that kingdom.By virtue of this treaty, a ship from Siam arrived at Manila with goods, but the Governor treated the Siamese so ill, that they returned discontented, and by this conduct the whole cost of the embassy was thrown away. The Spaniards severely censured this extraordinary conduct of the Governor, some attributing it to the capriceof his disposition, while others feeling less inclination to smother their sentiments, asserted boldly that the public interests of the monarchy, and of these islands, had no influence with him, unless they accorded with his own individual views of interest, or with the gratification of his passion for ostentation.A charge was made by the King’s fiscal against Señor Torralba, for property which had disappeared during the time he held the chief authority, the amount of which, according to his own account, was seven hundred thousand dollars. It was understood that his son had effected his escape with considerable property, and that his wife, with his younger sons, had embarked in the ship for Acapulco, at the close of his government. The royal fiscal requested that the property might be attached which his wife had taken with her, and that the person of Torralba might be secured. The Governor, in compliance with this, andalways very zealous for the royal revenue, imprisoned him in the fort of Santiago. At this period the decision of the court arrived, by which Señor Villa was acquitted, and Señor Torralba fined in twenty thousand dollars, with orders to give security for twenty thousand more. His inability to comply with the terms of his sentence, put it in the Governor’s power to indulge his antipathy against public delinquents, by loading him with fetters, and treating him with the greatest rigour.These proceedings of the Governor were sufficient to expose him to the hatred of all. It is certain that a little before his death, a royal order arrived, in which the Archbishop was charged to place the Royal Audience on the same footing as before, and the chief Oidor had liberty to suspend the Governor from his office, if it was found necessary.Having despatched the ship for Acapulco, under the command of Don DomingoNebra, with letters in justification of his conduct, and suspecting that private letters had been forwarded by the same vessel, complaining of him to the government, he sent directions to stop the vessel, but she sailed immediately on the arrival of the officers despatched for that purpose, without paying any regard to the orders for her detention.The Governor, who was not of a disposition to permit himself to be insulted with impunity, ordered three ships which were lying in the port of Cavite to be prepared, and gave the command of them to Don Fernando de Angulo, for the purpose of pursuing the galleon, and bringing her back to Manila; and in case this force should not be able to overtake her, he at the same time despatched a patache, in which he sent his nephew, Don Alexandro Bustamente, to New Spain, to give information of what had passed. This was unquestionably a necessary measure on thepart of the merchants, as the royal officers had retired to St. Augustine, without having furnished a correct register of the different goods on board, and they had reason to fear that on their arrival at Acapulco they would be seized.The Governor was given to understand that Angulo would not attack the galleon even with his three ships, as he was one of those who had entered into the conspiracy against him, when it was determined that the Chinese should be murdered. All, in short, were become heartily disgusted with his tyranny, and were ripe for rebellion, though few had concerted any regular plan for the purpose. The Governor, whose destiny led him to the edge of the precipice, instead of tranquillizing the minds of the public by resorting to prudent measures, began to commit still greater enormities. This alarmed the Señor Villa, who was the only Oidor that remained, and who had been appointed Fiscal. Itappeared clear that the Governor’s conduct would produce some dismal catastrophe, and, unable to oppose it, fearing likewise that his own life was insecure, he took shelter in the convent of the Augustines.On the retirement of the Señor Villa, the Royal Audience was annihilated, as Señor Torralba was in prison by order of the King, and the Governor would not permit the Señor Pavon to return to his office again; the former fiscal was dead, and the Señors Velasco and Torribio, the honorary Oidors and law professors, had had all their property confiscated, and had been imprisoned. The annihilation of the Royal Audience was a misfortune both to the inhabitants of Manila, and likewise to the Governor, as it was the means of giving validity, in the name of the King, to his atrocities. He consulted Señor Torralba, and agreed that he should be released from his dungeon, and confined in the hall of the Royal Audience, where thefunctions of this respectable tribunal were exercised by one individual, of notorious character, who had been deservedly disgraced, and was a prisoner by order of his Majesty. Under this authority the Governor began to imprison those whom he chose to consider as obnoxious to him, none being exempt but those who had taken refuge in the churches, which were by this means filled with the first people of Manila and its neighbourhood. A notary public, among others, had retired to the cathedral; his effects were immediately seized, and, upon examination, his register of sales, contracts, &c. was missing from his office. The ordinary Alcalde who seized his effects consulted the Governor upon this circumstance, and stated, that although he had taken refuge in a sanctuary, yet, legally, he ought to be compelled to deliver up the register. The Governor submitted it to the decision of the Royal Audience, which being composed of SeñorTorralba solely, he immediately despatched an order, to which the royal seal was affixed, addressed to the Archbishop, in which he was directed to enter the cathedral, and deliver up to justice the notary public, who had taken refuge there.Señor Cuesta, who did not wish to have an unavailing dispute, consulted the two universities upon the point, and they unanimously gave it as their opinion, that Señor Torralba could neither give due authority to royal orders, nor could the archbishop direct the royal jurisdiction, even if duly authenticated, to be exercised within the church. He forwarded to the Governor these opinions, with a view to justify himself in declining obedience to the order which had been issued by Señor Torralba. This reply was forwarded by the Governor to the Royal Audience, and it occasioned the issue of another order still more severe, in which the archbishop was treated with little ceremony, and threatened to be compelled,by force, to obey, and no longer shelter himself behind a consultation with the two universities. The archbishop, convinced that Señor Torralba was the principal instigator of these unhappy disputes, with less prudence than the circumstances of the times required, issued a process against this violator of ecclesiastical sanctuary, and excommunicated him. This was the grand error he committed, and from which melancholy consequences resulted; for having sent two of the clergy to intimate to him the sentence of excommunication, Torralba, on observing them approach, went to meet them, and snatched from them the paper containing it. Immediately afterwards appeared a publication from him, accusing the clergy of an intention to take away his life, and suborned witnesses: having, on examination, confirmed this charge, the Governor was induced to commit to prison the Archbishop, and several of the clergy and religiousorders, with such other persons as had taken refuge in the churches.Before, however, this order was put in force, a proclamation was issued, requiring all the inhabitants in the vicinity to assemble in the office of the royal auditor, in aid of the civil power; and that on the signal of the discharge of a cannon, with ball, they should all repair to the palace. When the time arrived to put the scheme in execution, the artillery was levelled against the city, and the gates leading into the square, and the fort of Santiago being secured, and ammunition distributed to the guards appointed there, the signal gun agreed on was fired, and all in the vicinity repairing to the palace, they were detained there.Having thus made his dispositions, the Governor ordered the Archbishop, with all the ecclesiastical Cabildo, the Commissary of the Inquisition, the heads of the religious orders, and various other clergy, to beseized. By these arrests and preparations, consternation was spread over the whole city; nothing was seen but knives at people’s throats, and it was said that it was the intention of the Governor to decapitate all the Spaniards, and escape to the coast of Mexico with their property. Even this extravagant charge was credited, as he was known to be a man who respected no tribunal, and who had violated the sanctuary of the churches, by dragging from thence those who had taken refuge there, committing them to prison, not even excepting the ecclesiastics. Despair alone produced a tumultuous assemblage of the inhabitants, but without any premeditated plan, nor is it an easy matter now to discover how the disturbances began.The religious of the different orders were seen in procession along the streets with crucifixes in their hands, accompanied by people of all classes, particularly those who had taken refuge in the churches, and whohad not yet been seized, calling out, “Long live the true faith, long live the church, and long live our King, Philip the Fifth!”—They arrived in this manner at the church of St. Augustine, where the chief people of Manila, who had taken refuge there, joined them, and being provided with arms, they followed the procession to the palace. A page intimated to the Governor that the friars were in procession along the streets, and he immediately gave directions to put a stop to it, though he was ignorant of its meaning, and only presumed there was some tumult. On observing them from the window, however, and being convinced of their mutinous intention, he despatched positive orders to the fort to fire the artillery on the city; but although the Governor of the fort was his son, his humanity, or his disobedience was such, that he only fired two, and those so ill pointed, that the shot did not take effect.Meantime the immense concourse ofinhabitants arrived at the palace without opposition, when the guard, either overawed, or conniving at the measure, permitted them to pass unmolested, and the crowd ascended the staircase. The halberdiers, who were on guard in the anti-room, made no resistance, nor did even one individual attempt to defend the palace except the Governor, who rushing out alone, fired his fusee, and with his drawn sword attacked the crowd. A friar endeavoured to accost him, but he called out, “Leave me, father, unless you wish to murder me,” and making a cut with his sabre, he wounded a citizen. Upon this a general attack was made on him, when his arm being broke, and his head severely wounded, he fell apparently dead. His son, the Governor of the fort, observing from thence that the tumult had reached the palace with every alarming appearance, he mounted a horse in order to assist his father, and entered the palace swordin hand, but he was overpowered, and wounded so severely that he died the same evening. A Jesuit friar approached the Governor, to ascertain if he still lived, when the dying man said, in a faint voice, “Father, do not abandon me until the last moment of my life, which I have well deserved to lose, on account of my misconduct.” He very devoutly confessed himself, and some of the mutineers seeing that he was still likely to live, carried him into an adjoining apartment, and put him in a hammock, with a view to convey him to a dungeon in the court prison, when, in his passage out, he was met by a slave of the chief auditor’s, Don Vincente Lucea, who gave him two mortal stabs with a knife. The father and son were both placed in the chapel of the prison, and the dean sent for surgical assistance, but in the mean time, between five and six in the evening, they both died, having receivedtheir wounds between twelve and one in the course of the day.The mutineers proceeded to the prisons, set at liberty the inhabitants of Manila confined there, and placed in their stead the Oidor Torralba and Doctor Correa, who had officiated as fiscal during these disturbances, and likewise as secretary to the Governor.The Governor being dead, the ordinary alcalde assumed the reins of government in the civil department, and Don Fernando Bustamente, the son of the late Governor, who had that day lost his life in assisting his father, notwithstanding this succeeded nominally to the military department. The arrangement was every way invalid, as his Majesty had determined, by repeated royal edicts, that on the death of the Governor, the Royal Audience should be invested with the reins of Government. This tribunal, however, had been of late merelya shadow, as it had been composed of Señor Torralba solely, who was a prisoner by his Majesty’s order. The principal people of the city not knowing on whom to bestow the chief magistracy, went to the fort of Santiago, where the archbishop was confined, and requested that he would assume the government. He, however, declined it, on the plea that he was not authorized; but upon their pressing his acceptance of it, he left the fort, and passing by the palace of the Governor, the people attempted to force him to enter and take possession of it, but he resisted, and proceeded on to the archiepiscopal palace. He ordered two notaries public to examine the body of the Governor, who reported that he was dead, and upon this report the principal people in Manila again assembled, and resolved, that under all the circumstances, it was incumbent on the archbishop to assume the direction of public affairs. The archbishop was at last prevailedon to assent, but before taking the customary oaths, he thought it prudent to make the declaration, that what he did was not from any wish to prejudice the right which any person might have to the government through the appointment of his Majesty. The ceremony ended with the citizens doing him the same homage as was usual on the appointment of regular Governors.The day following he summoned a council, at which, in conjunction with those who had assisted him the day before, were present the Oidor Villa, who had left Manila and had retired to Guadalupe, and the honorary Oidors, Velasco and Torribio, whom the insurgents had released from confinement. The Señor Villa was acknowledged in this assembly as legitimate Oidor, and as such he renounced the right which the laws gave him of holding the reins of government, and recognized, on the day following, in the hall of the RoyalAudience, the archbishop, as his legitimate President and Governor, delivering up to him the keys of the secret archives. The Royal Audience being thus formed, it was agreed that in consequence of the want of regular Oidors, the honorary members, Velasco and Torribio, should be added to their number, as there were many suits pending which required immediate adjudication. Velasco and Torribio were not desirous of taking this situation without being duly authorized by the King; but finding that it was the unanimous opinion of all who had attended at the meeting held for the purpose, they at last agreed to it. Finally, Señor Pavon was restored to his office of Oidor, agreeable to the order of the King, and he likewise ceded his right to the Governor, though there was afterwards a dispute between Señor Villa and him respecting precedency as the oldest Oidor, and which dispute the archbishop decided.There never appeared less confusion atan insurrection than on the present occasion, every individual seeming satisfied with his lot in being relieved from unjust oppression and violence. The archbishop, who had assumed the reins of government, was the only person whose mind was not at ease; but in a short time he was restored to tranquillity by the arrival of a royal order, enjoining him to suspend the Governor from his office, and imprison him; replace the Royal Audience on the same footing as before; set at liberty the Señor Velasco, and assume the reins of government himself, which was exactly what had been effected by the late disturbance.The archbishop had neither forgotten the dead bodies of the Governor and his son, nor his orphan family; he buried the former with all the pomp and solemnity which Governors were accustomed to receive. Bustamente left six sons; the oldest was appointed guardian to the others, and they were allowed one thousand dollarsper annum for their maintenance. They afterwards requested permission to proceed to New Spain; but his excellency would not grant it, until the elder brother paid into the royal treasury the expenses of the voyage, and agreed to conduct all his brothers to Mexico, where they had rich relations, who would receive them into their protection, and educate them.The death of the marshal took place on the 11th of October, 1719, within a little more than two years after he assumed the government.The public mind being at length tranquillized, the Oidor Velasco was commissioned to enquire into the circumstances relating to the death of the Governor and that of his son. He examined seventeen of the first characters in the city, who had taken no part in this disturbance, and their evidence tended to confirm what we have above related. He afterwards took the depositions of those in the service of Bustamente,who all declared against the conduct of their master. He even summoned before the judge some scholars, whom he accused of having published libels on the late Governor; but they justified themselves, and were acquitted.He likewise proceeded to examine Señor Torralba, Doctor Correa, secretary to the government, and another counsellor, who served as fiscalad interim; who threw the whole blame on the Governor Bustamente, representing him as a perfect devil, under whom they were in constant apprehension of their lives, and urging in their defence that the confusion was so great, they were ignorant of what was passing, and knew not who were or were not imprisoned. Lastly, the depositions of the Governor’s body guard was taken, of whom, however, no information could be procured, they declaring that they were so confounded at the multitude of people assembled on the occasion that they knewnothing of what passed. The utmost they heard was, that those inhabitants of Manila who had taken refuge in the church of St. Augustine had united with the friars, and were coming in a body to the palace, but who committed the murders they were totally ignorant of. The Oidor Velasco now gave orders, that all those who had taken refuge in the convent of St. Augustine should be imprisoned in their own houses: when, however, this was known throughout the city, such consternation prevailed, that Velasco revoked his decree, and delivered in his report with all diligence to the Royal Audience, who, without proceeding any further with the examinations into this business, ordered that a minute of it, as it then stood, should be forwarded to his Majesty. This wise proceeding tranquillized the minds of the inhabitants of Manila, who had felt exceedingly alarmed during the progress of the enquiry.The archbishop governed these islands for the space of two years with much prudence, and gave great satisfaction to the public, preserving in Manila the utmost harmony among all the different classes of inhabitants, and making due preparations against the Moors, who shewed a disposition to attack the garrisons which had been established to keep them in check. That of Zamboanga was an object of much jealousy to the Moors of Mindanao; and Dulasi, King of Butuy, sent a powerful armament to attempt to get possession of it by assault; they were repulsed by the Spaniards, but although severely handled, they did not desist from the enterprize.The Kings of Jolo and Mindanao sent out their fleets for the avowed purpose ofrelievingthe Spanish force in Zamboanga, but the Governor of that fort, doubtful of their intentions, would not admit them into the place, nor make use of them in any shape. Their design upon this becameevident, as they immediately joined Dulasi, and they lay with their three squadrons for some time in view of the fort, watching a fit opportunity to possess themselves of it. Finding, however, that the Spaniards were constantly on the watch, and despairing of compelling the fort to surrender, they dispersed their vessels through the islands, committing great excesses, and making many prisoners in every quarter. They, as usual, burnt many towns and villages, robbed many churches, and in Calamianes murdered a Franciscan friar. The archbishop called a council of war on this occasion, when it was resolved that the fort of Zamboanga should be abandoned, as likewise that of Labo, which the marshal had erected in the island of Parava, and that their garrisons should be sent to augment that of Taytay, which was deemed sufficient to protect the whole of Calamianes.

CHAPTER VII.ANNO DOM. 1717.The Administration of Don Fernando Bustamante, commonly called the Marshal.

The Administration of Don Fernando Bustamante, commonly called the Marshal.

The Field-Marshal Don Fernando Bustamante Bustillo y Rueda, late alcalde mayor of Tlascala, in New Spain, took possession of his government on the 9th of August, 1717. He was a man who knew how to make himself obeyed, and the more difficulties he encountered, the more did his resolution impel him to meet them with effect. He began by issuing some strong decrees, and others still more severe were expected. These were principally directed to the recovery of above two hundred thousand dollars, which he foundwere due to the royal treasury by different people, both by those in office, and generally by the public. These parties finding he was determined on the measure, began to murmur at his proceedings. Without, however, allowing himself to be influenced by any consideration of this nature, he laid an embargo on all the silver that came in the galleon from Acapulco, and required from the public functionaries correct statements of their accounts with the royal treasury. By an examination of those names which appeared as owners of the silver, he found it an easy matter to cover all those debts, and by this dexterous management recovered about three hundred thousand dollars to the treasury. Many of those, however, then indebted to the government, having died, or being reduced to poverty, their securities of course became responsible, and this extended the consequences of his measures to so many in Manila, that he became an object ofgeneral hatred, particularly as he went so far as to punish delinquencies by confining individuals as prisoners in their office, and by seizing their property. He ordered the late secretary of Torralba to give an account of what had been received for licences granted to the Chinese, and as this was not complied with, he seized all his effects, and committed him to prison, practising many other acts of severity too numerous to mention.Although these islands had been many years at peace with the Kings of Jolo and Mindanao, yet several pirates of those kingdoms continued to infest our coasts, and yet no redress could be had from the respective Sovereigns, who frankly acknowledged their inability to prevent such irregularities. With a view to correct these abuses, the Governor was desirous of re-establishing the station of Zamboanga, which, in the time of Don Sabiniano Manrique de Lara, had been abandoned throughapprehension of the Chinese pirate Cogseng, who had at that time threatened these islands.This matter was brought before a select committee of the royal works, who decided, by ten against seven, that the station should not be re-established; among other reasons alleging, that it was of no service against the Moors, and that it was supported at the heavy annual expense of twenty-five thousand dollars, answering no other purpose than that of enriching the Governor, whose appointment was from Manila, and for a term of three years. In opposition to the decision of this committee, however, the Governor ordered the works to be re-constructed. This further exasperated the public against him.The Franciscans having requested the Governor to place a garrison in Labo, in the island of Paragua, to protect them from the Moors, he consented to it, and accordingly erected a fort at much less expensethan that of Zamboanga, though as little tending to the public benefit.Don Fernando Bustamante, not satisfied with urging the Spaniards to cultivate commercial connections with the other kingdoms of Asia, was desirous of establishing one with the kingdom of Siam in particular, to whose King he sent a nephew of his own, bearing magnificent presents. He arrived in safety, was received well, and entertained splendidly. He delivered his credentials and presents to the King, and concluded a treaty of friendship, by which the Spaniards were allowed to establish a factory in that kingdom.By virtue of this treaty, a ship from Siam arrived at Manila with goods, but the Governor treated the Siamese so ill, that they returned discontented, and by this conduct the whole cost of the embassy was thrown away. The Spaniards severely censured this extraordinary conduct of the Governor, some attributing it to the capriceof his disposition, while others feeling less inclination to smother their sentiments, asserted boldly that the public interests of the monarchy, and of these islands, had no influence with him, unless they accorded with his own individual views of interest, or with the gratification of his passion for ostentation.A charge was made by the King’s fiscal against Señor Torralba, for property which had disappeared during the time he held the chief authority, the amount of which, according to his own account, was seven hundred thousand dollars. It was understood that his son had effected his escape with considerable property, and that his wife, with his younger sons, had embarked in the ship for Acapulco, at the close of his government. The royal fiscal requested that the property might be attached which his wife had taken with her, and that the person of Torralba might be secured. The Governor, in compliance with this, andalways very zealous for the royal revenue, imprisoned him in the fort of Santiago. At this period the decision of the court arrived, by which Señor Villa was acquitted, and Señor Torralba fined in twenty thousand dollars, with orders to give security for twenty thousand more. His inability to comply with the terms of his sentence, put it in the Governor’s power to indulge his antipathy against public delinquents, by loading him with fetters, and treating him with the greatest rigour.These proceedings of the Governor were sufficient to expose him to the hatred of all. It is certain that a little before his death, a royal order arrived, in which the Archbishop was charged to place the Royal Audience on the same footing as before, and the chief Oidor had liberty to suspend the Governor from his office, if it was found necessary.Having despatched the ship for Acapulco, under the command of Don DomingoNebra, with letters in justification of his conduct, and suspecting that private letters had been forwarded by the same vessel, complaining of him to the government, he sent directions to stop the vessel, but she sailed immediately on the arrival of the officers despatched for that purpose, without paying any regard to the orders for her detention.The Governor, who was not of a disposition to permit himself to be insulted with impunity, ordered three ships which were lying in the port of Cavite to be prepared, and gave the command of them to Don Fernando de Angulo, for the purpose of pursuing the galleon, and bringing her back to Manila; and in case this force should not be able to overtake her, he at the same time despatched a patache, in which he sent his nephew, Don Alexandro Bustamente, to New Spain, to give information of what had passed. This was unquestionably a necessary measure on thepart of the merchants, as the royal officers had retired to St. Augustine, without having furnished a correct register of the different goods on board, and they had reason to fear that on their arrival at Acapulco they would be seized.The Governor was given to understand that Angulo would not attack the galleon even with his three ships, as he was one of those who had entered into the conspiracy against him, when it was determined that the Chinese should be murdered. All, in short, were become heartily disgusted with his tyranny, and were ripe for rebellion, though few had concerted any regular plan for the purpose. The Governor, whose destiny led him to the edge of the precipice, instead of tranquillizing the minds of the public by resorting to prudent measures, began to commit still greater enormities. This alarmed the Señor Villa, who was the only Oidor that remained, and who had been appointed Fiscal. Itappeared clear that the Governor’s conduct would produce some dismal catastrophe, and, unable to oppose it, fearing likewise that his own life was insecure, he took shelter in the convent of the Augustines.On the retirement of the Señor Villa, the Royal Audience was annihilated, as Señor Torralba was in prison by order of the King, and the Governor would not permit the Señor Pavon to return to his office again; the former fiscal was dead, and the Señors Velasco and Torribio, the honorary Oidors and law professors, had had all their property confiscated, and had been imprisoned. The annihilation of the Royal Audience was a misfortune both to the inhabitants of Manila, and likewise to the Governor, as it was the means of giving validity, in the name of the King, to his atrocities. He consulted Señor Torralba, and agreed that he should be released from his dungeon, and confined in the hall of the Royal Audience, where thefunctions of this respectable tribunal were exercised by one individual, of notorious character, who had been deservedly disgraced, and was a prisoner by order of his Majesty. Under this authority the Governor began to imprison those whom he chose to consider as obnoxious to him, none being exempt but those who had taken refuge in the churches, which were by this means filled with the first people of Manila and its neighbourhood. A notary public, among others, had retired to the cathedral; his effects were immediately seized, and, upon examination, his register of sales, contracts, &c. was missing from his office. The ordinary Alcalde who seized his effects consulted the Governor upon this circumstance, and stated, that although he had taken refuge in a sanctuary, yet, legally, he ought to be compelled to deliver up the register. The Governor submitted it to the decision of the Royal Audience, which being composed of SeñorTorralba solely, he immediately despatched an order, to which the royal seal was affixed, addressed to the Archbishop, in which he was directed to enter the cathedral, and deliver up to justice the notary public, who had taken refuge there.Señor Cuesta, who did not wish to have an unavailing dispute, consulted the two universities upon the point, and they unanimously gave it as their opinion, that Señor Torralba could neither give due authority to royal orders, nor could the archbishop direct the royal jurisdiction, even if duly authenticated, to be exercised within the church. He forwarded to the Governor these opinions, with a view to justify himself in declining obedience to the order which had been issued by Señor Torralba. This reply was forwarded by the Governor to the Royal Audience, and it occasioned the issue of another order still more severe, in which the archbishop was treated with little ceremony, and threatened to be compelled,by force, to obey, and no longer shelter himself behind a consultation with the two universities. The archbishop, convinced that Señor Torralba was the principal instigator of these unhappy disputes, with less prudence than the circumstances of the times required, issued a process against this violator of ecclesiastical sanctuary, and excommunicated him. This was the grand error he committed, and from which melancholy consequences resulted; for having sent two of the clergy to intimate to him the sentence of excommunication, Torralba, on observing them approach, went to meet them, and snatched from them the paper containing it. Immediately afterwards appeared a publication from him, accusing the clergy of an intention to take away his life, and suborned witnesses: having, on examination, confirmed this charge, the Governor was induced to commit to prison the Archbishop, and several of the clergy and religiousorders, with such other persons as had taken refuge in the churches.Before, however, this order was put in force, a proclamation was issued, requiring all the inhabitants in the vicinity to assemble in the office of the royal auditor, in aid of the civil power; and that on the signal of the discharge of a cannon, with ball, they should all repair to the palace. When the time arrived to put the scheme in execution, the artillery was levelled against the city, and the gates leading into the square, and the fort of Santiago being secured, and ammunition distributed to the guards appointed there, the signal gun agreed on was fired, and all in the vicinity repairing to the palace, they were detained there.Having thus made his dispositions, the Governor ordered the Archbishop, with all the ecclesiastical Cabildo, the Commissary of the Inquisition, the heads of the religious orders, and various other clergy, to beseized. By these arrests and preparations, consternation was spread over the whole city; nothing was seen but knives at people’s throats, and it was said that it was the intention of the Governor to decapitate all the Spaniards, and escape to the coast of Mexico with their property. Even this extravagant charge was credited, as he was known to be a man who respected no tribunal, and who had violated the sanctuary of the churches, by dragging from thence those who had taken refuge there, committing them to prison, not even excepting the ecclesiastics. Despair alone produced a tumultuous assemblage of the inhabitants, but without any premeditated plan, nor is it an easy matter now to discover how the disturbances began.The religious of the different orders were seen in procession along the streets with crucifixes in their hands, accompanied by people of all classes, particularly those who had taken refuge in the churches, and whohad not yet been seized, calling out, “Long live the true faith, long live the church, and long live our King, Philip the Fifth!”—They arrived in this manner at the church of St. Augustine, where the chief people of Manila, who had taken refuge there, joined them, and being provided with arms, they followed the procession to the palace. A page intimated to the Governor that the friars were in procession along the streets, and he immediately gave directions to put a stop to it, though he was ignorant of its meaning, and only presumed there was some tumult. On observing them from the window, however, and being convinced of their mutinous intention, he despatched positive orders to the fort to fire the artillery on the city; but although the Governor of the fort was his son, his humanity, or his disobedience was such, that he only fired two, and those so ill pointed, that the shot did not take effect.Meantime the immense concourse ofinhabitants arrived at the palace without opposition, when the guard, either overawed, or conniving at the measure, permitted them to pass unmolested, and the crowd ascended the staircase. The halberdiers, who were on guard in the anti-room, made no resistance, nor did even one individual attempt to defend the palace except the Governor, who rushing out alone, fired his fusee, and with his drawn sword attacked the crowd. A friar endeavoured to accost him, but he called out, “Leave me, father, unless you wish to murder me,” and making a cut with his sabre, he wounded a citizen. Upon this a general attack was made on him, when his arm being broke, and his head severely wounded, he fell apparently dead. His son, the Governor of the fort, observing from thence that the tumult had reached the palace with every alarming appearance, he mounted a horse in order to assist his father, and entered the palace swordin hand, but he was overpowered, and wounded so severely that he died the same evening. A Jesuit friar approached the Governor, to ascertain if he still lived, when the dying man said, in a faint voice, “Father, do not abandon me until the last moment of my life, which I have well deserved to lose, on account of my misconduct.” He very devoutly confessed himself, and some of the mutineers seeing that he was still likely to live, carried him into an adjoining apartment, and put him in a hammock, with a view to convey him to a dungeon in the court prison, when, in his passage out, he was met by a slave of the chief auditor’s, Don Vincente Lucea, who gave him two mortal stabs with a knife. The father and son were both placed in the chapel of the prison, and the dean sent for surgical assistance, but in the mean time, between five and six in the evening, they both died, having receivedtheir wounds between twelve and one in the course of the day.The mutineers proceeded to the prisons, set at liberty the inhabitants of Manila confined there, and placed in their stead the Oidor Torralba and Doctor Correa, who had officiated as fiscal during these disturbances, and likewise as secretary to the Governor.The Governor being dead, the ordinary alcalde assumed the reins of government in the civil department, and Don Fernando Bustamente, the son of the late Governor, who had that day lost his life in assisting his father, notwithstanding this succeeded nominally to the military department. The arrangement was every way invalid, as his Majesty had determined, by repeated royal edicts, that on the death of the Governor, the Royal Audience should be invested with the reins of Government. This tribunal, however, had been of late merelya shadow, as it had been composed of Señor Torralba solely, who was a prisoner by his Majesty’s order. The principal people of the city not knowing on whom to bestow the chief magistracy, went to the fort of Santiago, where the archbishop was confined, and requested that he would assume the government. He, however, declined it, on the plea that he was not authorized; but upon their pressing his acceptance of it, he left the fort, and passing by the palace of the Governor, the people attempted to force him to enter and take possession of it, but he resisted, and proceeded on to the archiepiscopal palace. He ordered two notaries public to examine the body of the Governor, who reported that he was dead, and upon this report the principal people in Manila again assembled, and resolved, that under all the circumstances, it was incumbent on the archbishop to assume the direction of public affairs. The archbishop was at last prevailedon to assent, but before taking the customary oaths, he thought it prudent to make the declaration, that what he did was not from any wish to prejudice the right which any person might have to the government through the appointment of his Majesty. The ceremony ended with the citizens doing him the same homage as was usual on the appointment of regular Governors.The day following he summoned a council, at which, in conjunction with those who had assisted him the day before, were present the Oidor Villa, who had left Manila and had retired to Guadalupe, and the honorary Oidors, Velasco and Torribio, whom the insurgents had released from confinement. The Señor Villa was acknowledged in this assembly as legitimate Oidor, and as such he renounced the right which the laws gave him of holding the reins of government, and recognized, on the day following, in the hall of the RoyalAudience, the archbishop, as his legitimate President and Governor, delivering up to him the keys of the secret archives. The Royal Audience being thus formed, it was agreed that in consequence of the want of regular Oidors, the honorary members, Velasco and Torribio, should be added to their number, as there were many suits pending which required immediate adjudication. Velasco and Torribio were not desirous of taking this situation without being duly authorized by the King; but finding that it was the unanimous opinion of all who had attended at the meeting held for the purpose, they at last agreed to it. Finally, Señor Pavon was restored to his office of Oidor, agreeable to the order of the King, and he likewise ceded his right to the Governor, though there was afterwards a dispute between Señor Villa and him respecting precedency as the oldest Oidor, and which dispute the archbishop decided.There never appeared less confusion atan insurrection than on the present occasion, every individual seeming satisfied with his lot in being relieved from unjust oppression and violence. The archbishop, who had assumed the reins of government, was the only person whose mind was not at ease; but in a short time he was restored to tranquillity by the arrival of a royal order, enjoining him to suspend the Governor from his office, and imprison him; replace the Royal Audience on the same footing as before; set at liberty the Señor Velasco, and assume the reins of government himself, which was exactly what had been effected by the late disturbance.The archbishop had neither forgotten the dead bodies of the Governor and his son, nor his orphan family; he buried the former with all the pomp and solemnity which Governors were accustomed to receive. Bustamente left six sons; the oldest was appointed guardian to the others, and they were allowed one thousand dollarsper annum for their maintenance. They afterwards requested permission to proceed to New Spain; but his excellency would not grant it, until the elder brother paid into the royal treasury the expenses of the voyage, and agreed to conduct all his brothers to Mexico, where they had rich relations, who would receive them into their protection, and educate them.The death of the marshal took place on the 11th of October, 1719, within a little more than two years after he assumed the government.The public mind being at length tranquillized, the Oidor Velasco was commissioned to enquire into the circumstances relating to the death of the Governor and that of his son. He examined seventeen of the first characters in the city, who had taken no part in this disturbance, and their evidence tended to confirm what we have above related. He afterwards took the depositions of those in the service of Bustamente,who all declared against the conduct of their master. He even summoned before the judge some scholars, whom he accused of having published libels on the late Governor; but they justified themselves, and were acquitted.He likewise proceeded to examine Señor Torralba, Doctor Correa, secretary to the government, and another counsellor, who served as fiscalad interim; who threw the whole blame on the Governor Bustamente, representing him as a perfect devil, under whom they were in constant apprehension of their lives, and urging in their defence that the confusion was so great, they were ignorant of what was passing, and knew not who were or were not imprisoned. Lastly, the depositions of the Governor’s body guard was taken, of whom, however, no information could be procured, they declaring that they were so confounded at the multitude of people assembled on the occasion that they knewnothing of what passed. The utmost they heard was, that those inhabitants of Manila who had taken refuge in the church of St. Augustine had united with the friars, and were coming in a body to the palace, but who committed the murders they were totally ignorant of. The Oidor Velasco now gave orders, that all those who had taken refuge in the convent of St. Augustine should be imprisoned in their own houses: when, however, this was known throughout the city, such consternation prevailed, that Velasco revoked his decree, and delivered in his report with all diligence to the Royal Audience, who, without proceeding any further with the examinations into this business, ordered that a minute of it, as it then stood, should be forwarded to his Majesty. This wise proceeding tranquillized the minds of the inhabitants of Manila, who had felt exceedingly alarmed during the progress of the enquiry.The archbishop governed these islands for the space of two years with much prudence, and gave great satisfaction to the public, preserving in Manila the utmost harmony among all the different classes of inhabitants, and making due preparations against the Moors, who shewed a disposition to attack the garrisons which had been established to keep them in check. That of Zamboanga was an object of much jealousy to the Moors of Mindanao; and Dulasi, King of Butuy, sent a powerful armament to attempt to get possession of it by assault; they were repulsed by the Spaniards, but although severely handled, they did not desist from the enterprize.The Kings of Jolo and Mindanao sent out their fleets for the avowed purpose ofrelievingthe Spanish force in Zamboanga, but the Governor of that fort, doubtful of their intentions, would not admit them into the place, nor make use of them in any shape. Their design upon this becameevident, as they immediately joined Dulasi, and they lay with their three squadrons for some time in view of the fort, watching a fit opportunity to possess themselves of it. Finding, however, that the Spaniards were constantly on the watch, and despairing of compelling the fort to surrender, they dispersed their vessels through the islands, committing great excesses, and making many prisoners in every quarter. They, as usual, burnt many towns and villages, robbed many churches, and in Calamianes murdered a Franciscan friar. The archbishop called a council of war on this occasion, when it was resolved that the fort of Zamboanga should be abandoned, as likewise that of Labo, which the marshal had erected in the island of Parava, and that their garrisons should be sent to augment that of Taytay, which was deemed sufficient to protect the whole of Calamianes.

Although these islands had been many years at peace with the Kings of Jolo and Mindanao, yet several pirates of those kingdoms continued to infest our coasts, and yet no redress could be had from the respective Sovereigns, who frankly acknowledged their inability to prevent such irregularities. With a view to correct these abuses, the Governor was desirous of re-establishing the station of Zamboanga, which, in the time of Don Sabiniano Manrique de Lara, had been abandoned throughapprehension of the Chinese pirate Cogseng, who had at that time threatened these islands.

This matter was brought before a select committee of the royal works, who decided, by ten against seven, that the station should not be re-established; among other reasons alleging, that it was of no service against the Moors, and that it was supported at the heavy annual expense of twenty-five thousand dollars, answering no other purpose than that of enriching the Governor, whose appointment was from Manila, and for a term of three years. In opposition to the decision of this committee, however, the Governor ordered the works to be re-constructed. This further exasperated the public against him.

The Franciscans having requested the Governor to place a garrison in Labo, in the island of Paragua, to protect them from the Moors, he consented to it, and accordingly erected a fort at much less expensethan that of Zamboanga, though as little tending to the public benefit.

Don Fernando Bustamante, not satisfied with urging the Spaniards to cultivate commercial connections with the other kingdoms of Asia, was desirous of establishing one with the kingdom of Siam in particular, to whose King he sent a nephew of his own, bearing magnificent presents. He arrived in safety, was received well, and entertained splendidly. He delivered his credentials and presents to the King, and concluded a treaty of friendship, by which the Spaniards were allowed to establish a factory in that kingdom.

By virtue of this treaty, a ship from Siam arrived at Manila with goods, but the Governor treated the Siamese so ill, that they returned discontented, and by this conduct the whole cost of the embassy was thrown away. The Spaniards severely censured this extraordinary conduct of the Governor, some attributing it to the capriceof his disposition, while others feeling less inclination to smother their sentiments, asserted boldly that the public interests of the monarchy, and of these islands, had no influence with him, unless they accorded with his own individual views of interest, or with the gratification of his passion for ostentation.

A charge was made by the King’s fiscal against Señor Torralba, for property which had disappeared during the time he held the chief authority, the amount of which, according to his own account, was seven hundred thousand dollars. It was understood that his son had effected his escape with considerable property, and that his wife, with his younger sons, had embarked in the ship for Acapulco, at the close of his government. The royal fiscal requested that the property might be attached which his wife had taken with her, and that the person of Torralba might be secured. The Governor, in compliance with this, andalways very zealous for the royal revenue, imprisoned him in the fort of Santiago. At this period the decision of the court arrived, by which Señor Villa was acquitted, and Señor Torralba fined in twenty thousand dollars, with orders to give security for twenty thousand more. His inability to comply with the terms of his sentence, put it in the Governor’s power to indulge his antipathy against public delinquents, by loading him with fetters, and treating him with the greatest rigour.

These proceedings of the Governor were sufficient to expose him to the hatred of all. It is certain that a little before his death, a royal order arrived, in which the Archbishop was charged to place the Royal Audience on the same footing as before, and the chief Oidor had liberty to suspend the Governor from his office, if it was found necessary.

Having despatched the ship for Acapulco, under the command of Don DomingoNebra, with letters in justification of his conduct, and suspecting that private letters had been forwarded by the same vessel, complaining of him to the government, he sent directions to stop the vessel, but she sailed immediately on the arrival of the officers despatched for that purpose, without paying any regard to the orders for her detention.

The Governor, who was not of a disposition to permit himself to be insulted with impunity, ordered three ships which were lying in the port of Cavite to be prepared, and gave the command of them to Don Fernando de Angulo, for the purpose of pursuing the galleon, and bringing her back to Manila; and in case this force should not be able to overtake her, he at the same time despatched a patache, in which he sent his nephew, Don Alexandro Bustamente, to New Spain, to give information of what had passed. This was unquestionably a necessary measure on thepart of the merchants, as the royal officers had retired to St. Augustine, without having furnished a correct register of the different goods on board, and they had reason to fear that on their arrival at Acapulco they would be seized.

The Governor was given to understand that Angulo would not attack the galleon even with his three ships, as he was one of those who had entered into the conspiracy against him, when it was determined that the Chinese should be murdered. All, in short, were become heartily disgusted with his tyranny, and were ripe for rebellion, though few had concerted any regular plan for the purpose. The Governor, whose destiny led him to the edge of the precipice, instead of tranquillizing the minds of the public by resorting to prudent measures, began to commit still greater enormities. This alarmed the Señor Villa, who was the only Oidor that remained, and who had been appointed Fiscal. Itappeared clear that the Governor’s conduct would produce some dismal catastrophe, and, unable to oppose it, fearing likewise that his own life was insecure, he took shelter in the convent of the Augustines.

On the retirement of the Señor Villa, the Royal Audience was annihilated, as Señor Torralba was in prison by order of the King, and the Governor would not permit the Señor Pavon to return to his office again; the former fiscal was dead, and the Señors Velasco and Torribio, the honorary Oidors and law professors, had had all their property confiscated, and had been imprisoned. The annihilation of the Royal Audience was a misfortune both to the inhabitants of Manila, and likewise to the Governor, as it was the means of giving validity, in the name of the King, to his atrocities. He consulted Señor Torralba, and agreed that he should be released from his dungeon, and confined in the hall of the Royal Audience, where thefunctions of this respectable tribunal were exercised by one individual, of notorious character, who had been deservedly disgraced, and was a prisoner by order of his Majesty. Under this authority the Governor began to imprison those whom he chose to consider as obnoxious to him, none being exempt but those who had taken refuge in the churches, which were by this means filled with the first people of Manila and its neighbourhood. A notary public, among others, had retired to the cathedral; his effects were immediately seized, and, upon examination, his register of sales, contracts, &c. was missing from his office. The ordinary Alcalde who seized his effects consulted the Governor upon this circumstance, and stated, that although he had taken refuge in a sanctuary, yet, legally, he ought to be compelled to deliver up the register. The Governor submitted it to the decision of the Royal Audience, which being composed of SeñorTorralba solely, he immediately despatched an order, to which the royal seal was affixed, addressed to the Archbishop, in which he was directed to enter the cathedral, and deliver up to justice the notary public, who had taken refuge there.

Señor Cuesta, who did not wish to have an unavailing dispute, consulted the two universities upon the point, and they unanimously gave it as their opinion, that Señor Torralba could neither give due authority to royal orders, nor could the archbishop direct the royal jurisdiction, even if duly authenticated, to be exercised within the church. He forwarded to the Governor these opinions, with a view to justify himself in declining obedience to the order which had been issued by Señor Torralba. This reply was forwarded by the Governor to the Royal Audience, and it occasioned the issue of another order still more severe, in which the archbishop was treated with little ceremony, and threatened to be compelled,by force, to obey, and no longer shelter himself behind a consultation with the two universities. The archbishop, convinced that Señor Torralba was the principal instigator of these unhappy disputes, with less prudence than the circumstances of the times required, issued a process against this violator of ecclesiastical sanctuary, and excommunicated him. This was the grand error he committed, and from which melancholy consequences resulted; for having sent two of the clergy to intimate to him the sentence of excommunication, Torralba, on observing them approach, went to meet them, and snatched from them the paper containing it. Immediately afterwards appeared a publication from him, accusing the clergy of an intention to take away his life, and suborned witnesses: having, on examination, confirmed this charge, the Governor was induced to commit to prison the Archbishop, and several of the clergy and religiousorders, with such other persons as had taken refuge in the churches.

Before, however, this order was put in force, a proclamation was issued, requiring all the inhabitants in the vicinity to assemble in the office of the royal auditor, in aid of the civil power; and that on the signal of the discharge of a cannon, with ball, they should all repair to the palace. When the time arrived to put the scheme in execution, the artillery was levelled against the city, and the gates leading into the square, and the fort of Santiago being secured, and ammunition distributed to the guards appointed there, the signal gun agreed on was fired, and all in the vicinity repairing to the palace, they were detained there.

Having thus made his dispositions, the Governor ordered the Archbishop, with all the ecclesiastical Cabildo, the Commissary of the Inquisition, the heads of the religious orders, and various other clergy, to beseized. By these arrests and preparations, consternation was spread over the whole city; nothing was seen but knives at people’s throats, and it was said that it was the intention of the Governor to decapitate all the Spaniards, and escape to the coast of Mexico with their property. Even this extravagant charge was credited, as he was known to be a man who respected no tribunal, and who had violated the sanctuary of the churches, by dragging from thence those who had taken refuge there, committing them to prison, not even excepting the ecclesiastics. Despair alone produced a tumultuous assemblage of the inhabitants, but without any premeditated plan, nor is it an easy matter now to discover how the disturbances began.

The religious of the different orders were seen in procession along the streets with crucifixes in their hands, accompanied by people of all classes, particularly those who had taken refuge in the churches, and whohad not yet been seized, calling out, “Long live the true faith, long live the church, and long live our King, Philip the Fifth!”—They arrived in this manner at the church of St. Augustine, where the chief people of Manila, who had taken refuge there, joined them, and being provided with arms, they followed the procession to the palace. A page intimated to the Governor that the friars were in procession along the streets, and he immediately gave directions to put a stop to it, though he was ignorant of its meaning, and only presumed there was some tumult. On observing them from the window, however, and being convinced of their mutinous intention, he despatched positive orders to the fort to fire the artillery on the city; but although the Governor of the fort was his son, his humanity, or his disobedience was such, that he only fired two, and those so ill pointed, that the shot did not take effect.

Meantime the immense concourse ofinhabitants arrived at the palace without opposition, when the guard, either overawed, or conniving at the measure, permitted them to pass unmolested, and the crowd ascended the staircase. The halberdiers, who were on guard in the anti-room, made no resistance, nor did even one individual attempt to defend the palace except the Governor, who rushing out alone, fired his fusee, and with his drawn sword attacked the crowd. A friar endeavoured to accost him, but he called out, “Leave me, father, unless you wish to murder me,” and making a cut with his sabre, he wounded a citizen. Upon this a general attack was made on him, when his arm being broke, and his head severely wounded, he fell apparently dead. His son, the Governor of the fort, observing from thence that the tumult had reached the palace with every alarming appearance, he mounted a horse in order to assist his father, and entered the palace swordin hand, but he was overpowered, and wounded so severely that he died the same evening. A Jesuit friar approached the Governor, to ascertain if he still lived, when the dying man said, in a faint voice, “Father, do not abandon me until the last moment of my life, which I have well deserved to lose, on account of my misconduct.” He very devoutly confessed himself, and some of the mutineers seeing that he was still likely to live, carried him into an adjoining apartment, and put him in a hammock, with a view to convey him to a dungeon in the court prison, when, in his passage out, he was met by a slave of the chief auditor’s, Don Vincente Lucea, who gave him two mortal stabs with a knife. The father and son were both placed in the chapel of the prison, and the dean sent for surgical assistance, but in the mean time, between five and six in the evening, they both died, having receivedtheir wounds between twelve and one in the course of the day.

The mutineers proceeded to the prisons, set at liberty the inhabitants of Manila confined there, and placed in their stead the Oidor Torralba and Doctor Correa, who had officiated as fiscal during these disturbances, and likewise as secretary to the Governor.

The Governor being dead, the ordinary alcalde assumed the reins of government in the civil department, and Don Fernando Bustamente, the son of the late Governor, who had that day lost his life in assisting his father, notwithstanding this succeeded nominally to the military department. The arrangement was every way invalid, as his Majesty had determined, by repeated royal edicts, that on the death of the Governor, the Royal Audience should be invested with the reins of Government. This tribunal, however, had been of late merelya shadow, as it had been composed of Señor Torralba solely, who was a prisoner by his Majesty’s order. The principal people of the city not knowing on whom to bestow the chief magistracy, went to the fort of Santiago, where the archbishop was confined, and requested that he would assume the government. He, however, declined it, on the plea that he was not authorized; but upon their pressing his acceptance of it, he left the fort, and passing by the palace of the Governor, the people attempted to force him to enter and take possession of it, but he resisted, and proceeded on to the archiepiscopal palace. He ordered two notaries public to examine the body of the Governor, who reported that he was dead, and upon this report the principal people in Manila again assembled, and resolved, that under all the circumstances, it was incumbent on the archbishop to assume the direction of public affairs. The archbishop was at last prevailedon to assent, but before taking the customary oaths, he thought it prudent to make the declaration, that what he did was not from any wish to prejudice the right which any person might have to the government through the appointment of his Majesty. The ceremony ended with the citizens doing him the same homage as was usual on the appointment of regular Governors.

The day following he summoned a council, at which, in conjunction with those who had assisted him the day before, were present the Oidor Villa, who had left Manila and had retired to Guadalupe, and the honorary Oidors, Velasco and Torribio, whom the insurgents had released from confinement. The Señor Villa was acknowledged in this assembly as legitimate Oidor, and as such he renounced the right which the laws gave him of holding the reins of government, and recognized, on the day following, in the hall of the RoyalAudience, the archbishop, as his legitimate President and Governor, delivering up to him the keys of the secret archives. The Royal Audience being thus formed, it was agreed that in consequence of the want of regular Oidors, the honorary members, Velasco and Torribio, should be added to their number, as there were many suits pending which required immediate adjudication. Velasco and Torribio were not desirous of taking this situation without being duly authorized by the King; but finding that it was the unanimous opinion of all who had attended at the meeting held for the purpose, they at last agreed to it. Finally, Señor Pavon was restored to his office of Oidor, agreeable to the order of the King, and he likewise ceded his right to the Governor, though there was afterwards a dispute between Señor Villa and him respecting precedency as the oldest Oidor, and which dispute the archbishop decided.

There never appeared less confusion atan insurrection than on the present occasion, every individual seeming satisfied with his lot in being relieved from unjust oppression and violence. The archbishop, who had assumed the reins of government, was the only person whose mind was not at ease; but in a short time he was restored to tranquillity by the arrival of a royal order, enjoining him to suspend the Governor from his office, and imprison him; replace the Royal Audience on the same footing as before; set at liberty the Señor Velasco, and assume the reins of government himself, which was exactly what had been effected by the late disturbance.

The archbishop had neither forgotten the dead bodies of the Governor and his son, nor his orphan family; he buried the former with all the pomp and solemnity which Governors were accustomed to receive. Bustamente left six sons; the oldest was appointed guardian to the others, and they were allowed one thousand dollarsper annum for their maintenance. They afterwards requested permission to proceed to New Spain; but his excellency would not grant it, until the elder brother paid into the royal treasury the expenses of the voyage, and agreed to conduct all his brothers to Mexico, where they had rich relations, who would receive them into their protection, and educate them.

The death of the marshal took place on the 11th of October, 1719, within a little more than two years after he assumed the government.

The public mind being at length tranquillized, the Oidor Velasco was commissioned to enquire into the circumstances relating to the death of the Governor and that of his son. He examined seventeen of the first characters in the city, who had taken no part in this disturbance, and their evidence tended to confirm what we have above related. He afterwards took the depositions of those in the service of Bustamente,who all declared against the conduct of their master. He even summoned before the judge some scholars, whom he accused of having published libels on the late Governor; but they justified themselves, and were acquitted.

He likewise proceeded to examine Señor Torralba, Doctor Correa, secretary to the government, and another counsellor, who served as fiscalad interim; who threw the whole blame on the Governor Bustamente, representing him as a perfect devil, under whom they were in constant apprehension of their lives, and urging in their defence that the confusion was so great, they were ignorant of what was passing, and knew not who were or were not imprisoned. Lastly, the depositions of the Governor’s body guard was taken, of whom, however, no information could be procured, they declaring that they were so confounded at the multitude of people assembled on the occasion that they knewnothing of what passed. The utmost they heard was, that those inhabitants of Manila who had taken refuge in the church of St. Augustine had united with the friars, and were coming in a body to the palace, but who committed the murders they were totally ignorant of. The Oidor Velasco now gave orders, that all those who had taken refuge in the convent of St. Augustine should be imprisoned in their own houses: when, however, this was known throughout the city, such consternation prevailed, that Velasco revoked his decree, and delivered in his report with all diligence to the Royal Audience, who, without proceeding any further with the examinations into this business, ordered that a minute of it, as it then stood, should be forwarded to his Majesty. This wise proceeding tranquillized the minds of the inhabitants of Manila, who had felt exceedingly alarmed during the progress of the enquiry.

The archbishop governed these islands for the space of two years with much prudence, and gave great satisfaction to the public, preserving in Manila the utmost harmony among all the different classes of inhabitants, and making due preparations against the Moors, who shewed a disposition to attack the garrisons which had been established to keep them in check. That of Zamboanga was an object of much jealousy to the Moors of Mindanao; and Dulasi, King of Butuy, sent a powerful armament to attempt to get possession of it by assault; they were repulsed by the Spaniards, but although severely handled, they did not desist from the enterprize.

The Kings of Jolo and Mindanao sent out their fleets for the avowed purpose ofrelievingthe Spanish force in Zamboanga, but the Governor of that fort, doubtful of their intentions, would not admit them into the place, nor make use of them in any shape. Their design upon this becameevident, as they immediately joined Dulasi, and they lay with their three squadrons for some time in view of the fort, watching a fit opportunity to possess themselves of it. Finding, however, that the Spaniards were constantly on the watch, and despairing of compelling the fort to surrender, they dispersed their vessels through the islands, committing great excesses, and making many prisoners in every quarter. They, as usual, burnt many towns and villages, robbed many churches, and in Calamianes murdered a Franciscan friar. The archbishop called a council of war on this occasion, when it was resolved that the fort of Zamboanga should be abandoned, as likewise that of Labo, which the marshal had erected in the island of Parava, and that their garrisons should be sent to augment that of Taytay, which was deemed sufficient to protect the whole of Calamianes.

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