Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/521

 OF THE ARCHIPELAOe. 477 claim laid to the surrender of the whole Philippines. Our notions of the laws of war, and views of com- mon justice, are much refined since the conquest of Manila. Such is now the strength of public opinion against such an abuse of the right of conquest, that no military commander of our day or nation would dare to commit so open and flag« rant an act of plunder. An Indian city is never treated in such a manner, even when the conduct of the conquered, by the violation of the laws of war, so frequent in Hindustan, would appear to render such severity more justifiable.* The success of the English ended with the cap- ture of the town and suburbs of Manila, and a few at the time, to have been conducted by Burke, eulogizes the whole conduct of the expedition. The following is the very disgusting strain in which the affair of the ransom is spoken of: " Influenced by a generosity familiar to our commanders, and willing to preserve so noble a city from destruction," (tlfty were already in full possession of it,) " General Draper and the admi- ral, though able to command every thing, admitted the inha-^ bitants to a capitulation, by which they enjoyed their liberties, lives, and properties, and the administration of their domestic government. A ransom of a million Sterling purchased these terms." — Annual Register for 176^3, p. 13. The virtuous Ju- nius, torturing the public and private life of Sir William Dra- per for matter of accusation, is so far from reflecting upon his extortion at Manila, that he is angry with him for being silent respecting his own claim and that of the captors.
 * The Annual Register, the historical part of which is said,