MANILLA, the capital of an island of the same name in the East Indies, on the south-east side of the island, where a large river falls into the sea, and forms a noble bay 30 leagues in compass, to which the Spaniards have given the name of Bahia, because the river runs out of the great lake Bahi, which lies at the distance of six leagues behind it. In compass it is two miles, in length one-third of a mile; the shape irregular, being narrow at both ends, and wide in the middle. On the south it is washed by the sea, and on the north and east by the river; being also strongly fortified with walls, bastions, forts, and batteries.—Manilla contains about 30,000 souls, who are a very motley race, distinguished by several strange names, and produced by the conjunction of Spaniards, Chinese, Malabars, Blacks, and others inhabiting the city and islands depending on it. Without the walls are large suburbs, particularly that inhabited by the Chinese merchants, called Sangleys. In proportion to the size of the place, the number of churches and religious houses is very great. Only small vessels can come up to Manilla; but three leagues south of it is the town and port of Cavite, defended by the castle of St Philip, and capable of receiving the largest ships. Here stands the arsenal where the galleons are built, for which there are from 300 to 600 or 800 men constantly employed, who are relieved every month, and while upon duty are maintained at the king's expence. By an earthquake which happened here in 1645, a third part of the city of Manilla was destroyed, and no less than 3000 people perished in the ruins.
Spain having entered into engagements with France, in consequence of the family-compact of the house of Bourbon, it was found expedient by Britain to declare war also against Spain. Whereupon a force was sent out from our East India settlements, particularly Madras, for the conquest of the Philippine islands, under General Draper and Admiral Cornish: who, after a siege of 12 days, took Manilla on the 6th of October
1762 by storm; but to save so fine a city from destruction, agreed to accept a ransom, amounting to a million sterling, a part of which, it is said, was never paid. The Spanish viceroy resides in this city, and lives like a sovereign prince. The government is said to be one of the best in the gift of the king of Spain. When the city was taken, as above, the archbishop, who is a kind of pope in this part of the world, was also viceroy. Five large ships, loaded with the riches of the East, as diamonds from Golconda, cinnamon from Ceylon, pepper from Sumatra and Java, cloves and nutmegs from the Moluccas and Banda islands, camphire from Borneo, benjamin and ivory from Cambodia, silks, tea, and china-ware from China, &c. sail yearly from hence to Acapulco in Mexico, and return freighted with silver, making 400 per cent. profit.
The city of Manilla is governed by two alcaides: the rest of the cities and great towns have each an alcaide; and in every village there is a corregidore. Appeals from their sentences are made to the royal court at Manilla, in which there are four judges, and a fiscal or attorney-general; each of these judges has a salary of 3300 pieces of eight per annum. The viceroy is president; and in that quality has an income of 4000 pieces of eight, but he has no vote; yet if the judges are equally divided, the president names a doctor of the civil law, who, in virtue of his appointment, has a decisive vote. The attorney-general, in right of his office, is protector of the Chinese, in consideration of which he receives 600 pieces of eight every year. As for the Indians that are in subjection, they pay tribute in the following proportions: Young men from 18, and from thence, if they continue single, to the age of 60, pay five rials of plate by way of capitulation; as single women likewise do from 24 to 30: married men pay ten rials. It is computed that there are within the compass of this government 250,000 Indians subject to his Catholic majesty, of whom two-fifths hold immediately from the king, and the rest from lords or proprietors, who pay two rials each for maintenance of the forces, and the like sum for the parish-priest. The royal revenue is computed at about half a million of pieces of eight, exclusive of casualties. In regard to the military establishment, the garrison of Manilla consists of about 800 or 1000 men, and there are about 3000 more in the Philippines. The viceroy is by his office captain-general, with a salary of about 4000 pieces of eight.