Subjugation of the Archipelago. 287 



towards the close of the Seven Years' War, invaded these 

 settlements.* 



The area conquered, however, did not extend fiui^her in- 

 land than to a distance of ten miles from the walls of the city, 

 and after an occupation of ten months, Manila was restored to 

 the Crown of Spain by the Peace of -Paris, 1763. Since that 

 memorable period, the Philippine group has remained unin- 

 terruptedly under the dominion of the Spaniards, and has up 

 to the present day been a faithful dependent of the Royal 

 House of Castile. In fact, w4th the exception of Cuba and 

 Porto Rico, the Philippine and Marianne Archipelagoes are 

 the sole colonies that Spain still retains of her once so enor- 

 mous possessions in the distant portions of the globe, although 

 in Manila even in our own day, as will be more fully detailed 

 presently, despite her honourable distinction of "Za Biempre 

 real ciuclad^^ (The Ever Loyal city), there is no lack of dis- 

 content, and the generally prevailing "loyal tranquillity" 

 is, none the less, boding many serious perils for the Spanish 

 supremacy. 



The most striking peculiarity of the natural configuration 



* The expedition sailed from Madras with about 2300 men ; the squadron con- 

 sisted of 13 ships of war and transports. The Enghsh landed without any opposi- 

 tion, laid siege to Manila, stormed and captured the city proper within ten days 

 after their arrival. The Citadel capitulated; the Governor, an Archbishop, binding 

 himself to pay a contribution of 4,000,000 dollars (£833,000), in order to save the city 

 from being sacked. This expedition was always looked on by the Spaniards of the 

 Philippines as a very rash adventure, which by no means tended to diminish the 

 national antipathy to tlie English race, although after such frcebooting expeditions as 

 have within these last two years been witnessed on the part of civilized states in law- 

 abiding Europe, this invasion by an anny of declared enemies must be viewed in an 

 eutirelv chllerent lijiht. 



