during the voyage to act as drill-sergeant. | met and prayed, made me wish for either such a countenance as could pourtray devotion, or a heart that could feel it as all there appeared to feel. In the centre were ranged the soldiers, performing that which, in military phraseology, is termed carrying arms, at certain times and parts of the ceremony. At the elevation of the host, they all presented arms, kneeling; and then alone, during the entire celebration of the mass, did they remain uncovered. I may here incidentally remark, that a Spanish soldier never pre At this time occurred an incident which strikingly illustrates his characteristic coolness and intrepidity. One evening the alarm was given that the ship was on fire; the drums immediately beat to quarters, and the firemen were piped away to the gun-room, where an immense quantity of luggage had been temporarily deposited, and whence were issuing huge and increasing volumes of smoke. The after-magazine, containing some hundred barrels of gunpowder, was immediately beneath, and the ap-sents arms unless to royalty, or at the pearance of the combustion had become time I have alluded to. The officers stood so alarming, that every man awaited his at the left of their companies, an officer fate in silence, under an impression that and men assisting the clergyman in the the vessel would be speedily blown to ceremony. Through the square were atoms. At this moment Clapperton was kneeling various groups, the people observed by a friend sitting at a table in gave over for a time all buying or sellthe larboard berth, very quietly smoking ing; and if a peasant perchance came a cigar. His friend having expressed through, he either crossed himself, or surprise at his seeming indifference, he knelt down till all was over. In the stated, quite coolly, "That being only a balconies might be seen eyes beaming supernumerary, no particular station had with love and devotion, and lips breathbeen assigned to him, and it was there-ing forth the sincere offerings of a pure fore of no importance where he was when the ship blew up!" The fire was fortunately extinguished. A MILITARY MASS. To the eye unused to such sights nothing can be more calculated to arouse a new train of thought, than beholding the celebration of a military mass in the Plaza of San Sebastian. The form and the ceremony, the various groups, and all the other adjuncts, lend a charm and exhibit one of those moving pictures of life rarely to be found. The town-hall is a large spacious building looking out upon the Plaza, and from its centre window on the balcony, at 10 o'clock, on each festival and Sabbath day, the priest may be seen. The soldiers having previously entered the square, and the drums beaten up their symphony, the ceremony commences. To cast a look around and view the different countenances, would give food for reflection to a philosopher, and materials to a poet or painter, to arrange a picture in the mind, or to produce it to the sight; but as I happen to be neither one or the other, it failed to have all these effects upon such stolid clay; it pleased me from the novelty; and the fervour with which they heart, to the Maker of all. The only blemish, if I may use the term, which could be seen, was some lounging English officer, puffing his cigar, or in loud conversation with some of his countrymen, talking over some thoughtless freak. The contrast of the Spaniards was a striking one: there were they, in lowly supplication, forgetting for the time the cares of the world; and forgetting, too, their thoughts of ambition, fame, love, or whatever might be the principal object for which they were struggling, and thinking only of that Being from whom they derived life and subsistence, and to whom they were now looking for succour and protection. This interesting sight continued for twenty minutes, or half an hour: the mass then concluded, the drums beat the announcement, the people rose, and covered themselves; others returned to their avocations of buying and selling; the balcony windows were closed, and every thing passed away: groups, scattered as if they were but the creatures of a dream, and waking reality had dissipated the illusion. London:-Printed by JOSEPH LAST, No. 3, WE will now direct the reader's attention to the expedition against the Philippine islands, which was one of the best conducted, most spendid, and most important of all the successes which adorn the annals of British warfare. The motives to the execution of this enterprise were many and powerful. The Philippines or Manillas form a principal division of that immense Indian archipelago, which consists of above twelve hundred islands, extending from the nineteenth degree of north latitude, almost in a continued chain, to the shores of New Guinea, and the great southern continent. The Philippines, which form the northernmost cluster of these islands, are, some of them, among the largest, and all of them, naturally, among the richest, islands in the world. They were added VOL. II. to the Spanish monarchy, in its meridian glory, under Philip II., and, being happily situated for commerce, they were used as the centre of communication for the Asiatic and American trade. The grandeur of this design was sufficient to rouse the most vigorous efforts of administration. But the additional weight of Spain, in the scale of the enemies of Great Britain, required all the exertions of her strength nearer home. It was impossible, therefore, to spare ships or troops for undertaking a conquest so distant and precarious, however advantageous and splendid. But, fortunately, the preceding events of this glorious war naturally paved the way for those which were to follow. The success of one expedition not only suggested the idea, but facilitated the execution of 2 x ships. The fleet anchored at Malacca on the 19th, where it took on board water and refreshments. On the 27th it sailed, and on the 23d of September it arrived in Manilla Bay, to the great surprise of the Spaniards, who had not yet heard of the war, and were consequently ill prepared for so sudden an attack. another. By the fortune of our arms in the Philippine islands, in order to interthe east, we were become arbiters of the cept all vessels that might be bound to great peninsula of India; the French Manilla. In the course of three weeks were expelled; the Dutch humbled; the troops were all embarked, and everyand there was nothing in those parts to thing ready for this important enterprize. resist the British force, or even to afford On the 29th of July, Commodore Tedemployment to all the troops that were diman sailed with the first division of kept on foot. Nothing, therefore, was the fleet; and on the first of August, demanded from Great Britain but a light the admiral followed with the remainder, frigate to carry Colonel Draper to Ma- except the Falmouth, which was left at dras, where alone suitable preparations the request of the presidency of Madras, might be made for this important enter- to convoy the Essex Indiaman, she havprise. He arrived there the latter ending on board the treasure for the China of June, 1762, and was appointed brigadier-general and commander-in-chief of the land forces to be employed in the expedition. The squadron, commanded by Vice-admiral Cornish, a brave and able officer, consisted of several ships of the line, besides frigates. The troops allotted for this expedition, consisted of one regiment, with a company of the royal artillery, reinforced with six hundred seapoys, one company of Caffres, one of Topazes, one of pioneers, with several hundreds of unarmed Lascars, for the use of the engineers and the park of artillery. The admiral supplied a fine battalion of five hundred and fifty seamen, and two hundred and seventy marines. The whole force amounted to no more than two thousand three hundred effective men; an inconsiderable number, but of tried valour, inured to toil and hardship, and rendered equal, by their disciplined bravery, to the strength of a great army. The seventy-lected in force to oppose the landing, ninth regiment, which was the only regular body of troops employed on this service, had been the first who checked the progress of the French in India; their valour had given the happy turn to the war under Colonel Coote; they were inured to the climate, and accustomed to victory; and their arms were worthy to extend the glory of Great Britain to the remotest verge of Asia. The Argo frigate arrived at Madras, from England, in the month of June. Captain Richard King, her commander, brought out intelligence of hostilities having commenced against Spain, and orders for Vice-admiral Cornish to proceed with the utmost dispatch to the attack of Manilla. Colonel Draper was sent out to command the land forces. The admiral immediately dispatched the Seahorse, Captain Grant, to cruize off The town having been, next morning, ineffectually summoned, it was deter mined to make an immediate descent. The Argo, Seahorse, and Seaford frigates were ordered to anchor close in shore, to cover the landing of the troops, which, in the course of the evening, was effected with some difficulty, under the direction of the Captains Parker, Kempenfelt, and Brereton, through a most violent surf, by which many of the boats were dashed to pieces, a quantity of arms and ammunition damaged, but fortunately no lives were lost. The enemy had col but the well-directed and brisk cannonade from the frigate soon compelled them to retire. The troops, reinforced by 274 marines, landed and formed on the beach without molestation. On the 28th, a battalion, composed of 632 seamen, was landed to co-operate with the army under the command of the Captains Collins, Pitchford, and Ourry. On the 29th, in order to divide the enemy's attention, and second the operations of the army, the admiral or dered the Elizabeth and Falmouth to anchor as close to the town as the depth of water would permit, and to enfilade the part proposed to be attacked. Although the water was too shoal for the ships to approach near enough, their shot had the desired effect, throwing the inhabitants into the greatest terror and confusion. On the 1st and 2nd of October, it blew a most violent storm, attended by torrents of rain, which endangered the whole squadron. The South Sea Castle store-ship was driven ashore, fortunately without being materially injured; and in such a situation as proved extremely useful; her broadside enfiladed the beach, which enabled her to land the intrenching tools, stores, and provisions, with which she had lately arrived, without molestation. By the united efforts of the sea and land forces, the seige was carried on with the greatest spirit and activity. The enemy made several desperate attempts to storm our batteries and intrenchments; but were repulsed with a dreadful carnage; as the forces they employed on this service were chiefly composed of Indians, armed only with bows and arrows, who, with a savage ferocity, rushed on the very muzzles of our pieces, and died like wild beasts, gnawing the bayonets. On the 5th, a practical breach was made in the enemy's works; and the next morning, at day-break, the fort was | carried by storm. The governor and principal officers had retired to the citadel, which being in a defenceless state, they were soon obliged to surrender. To save the city from being pillaged, the inhabitants entered into an agreement to ransom it for four millions of dollars. One million sterling was to be assigned to the East India company, for the aid they afforded in the expedition. The following sums were all the captors received : with the hardships and fatigue to which the troops and seamen were constantly exposed. Four officers were killed, 5 wounded, and 2 drowned; 28 seamen and soldiers killed, 106 wounded, and 11 drowned. Commodore Teddiman, in attempting to enter the river in his barge, the morning after the reduction of Manilla, was unfortunately drowned, with five of his people. Captain Richard Kempenfelt was appointed to act as governor of the citadel of Cavite, and was afterwards entrusted with the admiral's dispatches to Eng| land. On the 7th of November, during the seige, Admiral Cornish received intelligence, that the galleon, St. Philippina, was on her passage from Acapulca to Manilla. The Panther and Argo were instantly sent in quest of her. On the 30th of October, Captain Parker discovered a large sail off the island of Capul, and gave chace. A rapid and adverse current obliged the Panther to anchor; but the Argo got alongside of her, and after a smart action of two hours, Captain King was compelled to sheer off to repair his damages. At nine the next morning, the Panther came up with the chase, and engaged her within musketshot until eleven, when she struck, and proved to be the Santissima Trinidada, which had sailed from Manilla on the first of August, bound to Acapulca; but having encountered a heavy storm, was dismasted, and on her return to refit. She was pierced for sixty guns, but had only thirteen_ mounted, and eight hundred men. The money and merchandize found on board, were estimated at three millions of dollars. In the meantime, the Philippina had arrived at Palapa, a port on the island of Samar. The governor, and principal merchants of Manilla, entered into an agreement with Admiral Cornish and General Draper, that the galleon should be given up to the English with all her treasure and plate on board, provided they might be allowed to take out of her as much money as would pay off the remainder of the four millions of dollars, which was due for the ransom of the city. admiral and general having acceded to this proposal, the Argo and Seaford frigates were dispatched to Palapa, with a deputation from the governor of Ma The nilla, ordering the general of the galleon to deliver her up to the English. The captains of the frigates used every effort, for three months, to beat through the Straits of Embocadero, against a strong N.E. monsoon, during which time they encountered very tempestuous weather; and were frequently in imminent danger of being lost. They were at length obliged to bear away for Manilla, without effecting their purpose, in a most shattered condition, and in great want of provisions. Soon after, Admiral Cornish sailed for the coast of Coromandel, leaving the Falmouth and Seaford for the protection of Manilla; and with orders for Captain Brereton to sail for Palapa, to take possession of the galleon as soon as the season would permit. This commission never appears to have been executed, as nothing more was ever heard of the cargo of the Philippina ; and the Spanish government refused to pay the two millions of dollars due for their ransom. ORIGINAL ANECDOTE OF MILITARY FLOGGING. we say, during the late war, that in militia regiments, particularly, flogging was as common as breakfast, conse quently little thought of in the army; the men looked upon it as a thing of course, and the officers laughed at the torments their fellow-creatures suffered. It was nothing uncommon for an upstart boy, a farmer's son perhaps, or a reduced mercantile clerk, whose friends had interest enough with the lieutenancy to procure him an ensigncy in a militia regiment, well knowing that his idle and dissipated habits excluded him from any other honest employment, to tell a man, much better than himself, that he would get him "a couple of hundred lashes to take the pride out of him." Many respectable members of society were forced to serve in the militia; many honest industrious men, who had seen better days, have been, from want of employment, compelled to leave their families and homes to serve in the mili tia; and these were the men who were trampled upon; these the men who were degraded by the tyranny of upstarts, and many of them whose backs were laid bare to the lacerating cat-o'-nine-tails. DURING the late war, corporal pu- Many circumstances occurred to make nishment in the army was as common the life of a militia-man miserable. In as a morning parade, but more particu- the first place, he was dragged from his larly in the militia regiments, which were home, his family, all that was dear to generally commanded by aristocratic him; he was placed on a level with the gentlemen, whose military ardour ren- most low, filthy, and degraded blackdered them as sanguinary as their regi-guard-the drunkard, the liar, and the mental coats. In short, one would have supposed that the country gentleman, like the parson, changed his sentiments with the colour of his coat; the former, dark, designing, hypocritical, and avari-infamy: formerly, he had in all proba cious; the latter, arrogant, disdainful, malignant, and bloody-minded. To be sure there is an old saying, "that there is never a rule without an exception." So, let us hope, for the honour of religion and humanity, that there are exceptions among the gentlemen mention-his commands were tempered with milded. Indeed we know there are, for we ourselves have really met some clerical gentlemen who set a good example to their flock by walking in the paths of virtue and truth; and we have also met some commanding officers whose hearts did possess some of the "milk of human kindness," though, we must confess, they were "like angels' visits, few and far between." But to return to our subject; thief; he had, in all probability, been reared and educated in the strictest rules of religion and morality; here, he was placed within the very core of vice and bility been accustomed to rank in society ness and judgment; here, he was com 1 |