that their
mere statement in figures affects the reader's mind, and perverts his
judgment of their actions. Not quite twenty years earlier, the gallant
Anson made his famous cruise round the world; and when he took the
Manila galleon, he found in her, besides other booty, silver of the
value of a million and a half of dollars, to defend which the Spaniards
fought as men generally fight for their money. Five years before
Albemarle took the Havana, Clive took, for his own share of Surajah
Doulah's personals, over a million of dollars, from the treasury of
Moorshedabad. That was the prize of Plassey. A little later, he accepted
a present in land that must have been worth over two million of dollars,
as the annual income it yielded was twenty-seven thousand pounds, or
about one hundred and thirty thousand dollars. Other British proconsuls
were also fortunate in India. The same year that saw the English flag
flying over so much of Cuba saw another English force, commanded by Sir
William Draper, reduce the Philippine Islands, taking possession of the
whole group by virtue of a capitulation. The naval force that
accompanied Draper captured the Acapulco galleon, which had a cargo of
the value of three million dollars. The English attacked Manila without
the Spanish garrison's having had any official notification of the
existence of hostilities. The town was defended by the Archbishop, who
behaved with bravery, and showed considerable skill in war; but after
some days' fighting the English got into the town by storming it, and
then gave it up to the rough mercies of a hardened soldiery, some of
whom were Sepoys, a description of warriors of whom the English now ask
us to believe all that is abominable. Manila was most savagely treated
by heathen soldiers led by Christian chiefs, a fact to be commended to
the consideration of those humane Englishmen who can with difficulty
breathe while reading General Butler's arrangement for the maintenance
of order in New Orleans. The Archbishop and some of the officers got
into the citadel, and there they negotiated a capitulation. They agreed
to ransom their property by paying down two million dollars, and by
drawing bills for a like sum upon the Spanish treasury, which bills
Draper was green enough to accept. The Spanish Government refused to pay
the bills when they had matured, and though Draper entreated the English
Ministers to interpose in behalf of himself and his comrades, no
interposi