Thanks to the fact that nowadays more and more books are digitized we are able to read books that are some times for decades no longer available for the public for several reasons. That’s quite a pity while these books contains useful information while the archives are destroyed, incomplete or nor accessible.
Mr. Brackenbury, British consul at Vigo supplied the next information, p. 348: “During the year 1860 the Spanish Royal Navy has been increased within this Consular District by the acquisition of three British-built screw-steamers named Ferrol, Flying Fish and Rapid and of one paddle-wheel, named Leopoldo to be employed as tugs, in addition to a sailing schooner named Industrious to be employed as a dredge. These vessels were purchased in England, and made over to the Spanish Government at Ferrol. In the Royal Arsenal at Ferrol the screw-steam corvette Circe of 160 horse-power, and carrying 6 guns, which was launched at the beginning of the year, has been fitted out. The screw-steamer Caridad of 80 horse-power, and intended to carry 2 guns, is at present fitting her engines. The screw-steam schooner Santa Lucia which will have engines of 160 horse-power, and will carry 6 guns, is in process of building. The screw- steam frigate Lealtad, having engines of 500 horse-power, and carrying 51 guns, launched in September 1860, has lately left Ferrol, and is to proceed to Havannah. The screw-steam frigate Patrocinio to be a sister ship to the Lealtad is in process of building. The screw-steam line-of-battle ship Principe Alfonso intended to carry 91 guns, and to have engines of 800 horse-power, is also in process of building.
In the merchant navy the screw-steamer Quevedo which arrived at this port under Spanish colours on the 13th of August, 18C0, from Campeachy, after having been detained here in consequence of her having been transferred to Spanish owners at that port, and bringing a provisional certificate from the Spanish Consul, was sold here in the sum of 14,600L, and as she was of British build the Customs’ authorities classed her as coming from Great Britain, which accounts for her appearing in the Return of imports.
Mr. Looney vice consul at Iloilo supplied the next information, p. 345: “Great national facilities exist at Iloilo for heaving down ships, and dry docks might be formed here with great ease and advantage. The American ship “Mountain Wave” has lately been hove down, caulked, and re-coppered in the river. Of the steam gun-boats, which are replacing throughout the Archipelago the heavy sailing-boats (“faluas”) previously employed, Iloilo has been supplied with two. These have, in some measure, promoted correspondence and communication with the neighbouring islands and provinces, and occasionally with Manilla, and are likely to prove much more effectual in repressing piracy than the former gun-boats. Recently they have had several encounters with the pirates of the Sooloo Sea, in the immediate neighbourhood of Iloilo, and have brought in 5 pirate “pancos” and other smaller boats, making away with between 200 to 300 of these habitual depredators of the Philippine coasts. It is presumable that this lesson will be productive of good effect for the future. These pirates arrive annually in this neighbourhood from the Sooloo Sea, particularly from the Island of Tawi-Tawi, reaching Panay and Negros-about May. and continuing their depredations until the change ot the monsoon enables them to return, about October and November. The number of captives yearly taken from the coast of Panay, Negros, and other islands, is considerable; and after the occurrence of captures of trading-boats in this vicinity, communication by small craft is suspended for a week or two, the natives, who are not allowed to possess fire-arms, being unwilling to expose themselves to the chance of being carried off. A number of the captives re-taken by the gun-boats in the actions alluded to, and brought in here, were very severely wounded by the pirates on the latter finding escape impracticable. Though communication with the neighbouring islands has been facilitated by the steam gun-boats, a more rapid means of intercourse with Manilla is still a very great desideratum. At times, intervals of more than a month elapse without news from the capital, which is the centre of all advices bearing on trading interests, and gives the standard of value for all the products of the Archipelago. This slowness of intercourse acts most prejudicially, in every way. A steamer, built at Manilla, is said to be about to be started by a Company at Manilla, to run between that port, Iloilo, and Zebu ; and the establishment of a line of this nature would be very advantageous. It is stated that the first trip will be made in September next. It has also been announced by the Manilla Press that the Government will afford at least a monthly communication by steam with the more important provinces, an assertion to which the number of steamers arriving from Spain seems to give confirmation. The offers of subsidy made by Government some time ago for the establishment of merchant-steamers to take the mail to all the provinces were, as you will have noticed, not accepted, owing to the number of conditions with which the contracts were hampered ; but they showed that the Government were alive to the rapidly-growing tradal importance of the provinces, and the consequent necessity of establishing prompt and regular communications.”
Source
Accounts and papers of the House of Commons: thirty-eight volumes. Manufactures and commerce and trading of foreign countries. Session 6 February-7 August 1862, vol. LVIII.
Mr. Brackenbury, British consul at Vigo supplied the next information, p. 348: “During the year 1860 the Spanish Royal Navy has been increased within this Consular District by the acquisition of three British-built screw-steamers named Ferrol, Flying Fish and Rapid and of one paddle-wheel, named Leopoldo to be employed as tugs, in addition to a sailing schooner named Industrious to be employed as a dredge. These vessels were purchased in England, and made over to the Spanish Government at Ferrol. In the Royal Arsenal at Ferrol the screw-steam corvette Circe of 160 horse-power, and carrying 6 guns, which was launched at the beginning of the year, has been fitted out. The screw-steamer Caridad of 80 horse-power, and intended to carry 2 guns, is at present fitting her engines. The screw-steam schooner Santa Lucia which will have engines of 160 horse-power, and will carry 6 guns, is in process of building. The screw- steam frigate Lealtad, having engines of 500 horse-power, and carrying 51 guns, launched in September 1860, has lately left Ferrol, and is to proceed to Havannah. The screw-steam frigate Patrocinio to be a sister ship to the Lealtad is in process of building. The screw-steam line-of-battle ship Principe Alfonso intended to carry 91 guns, and to have engines of 800 horse-power, is also in process of building.
In the merchant navy the screw-steamer Quevedo which arrived at this port under Spanish colours on the 13th of August, 18C0, from Campeachy, after having been detained here in consequence of her having been transferred to Spanish owners at that port, and bringing a provisional certificate from the Spanish Consul, was sold here in the sum of 14,600L, and as she was of British build the Customs’ authorities classed her as coming from Great Britain, which accounts for her appearing in the Return of imports.
Mr. Looney vice consul at Iloilo supplied the next information, p. 345: “Great national facilities exist at Iloilo for heaving down ships, and dry docks might be formed here with great ease and advantage. The American ship “Mountain Wave” has lately been hove down, caulked, and re-coppered in the river. Of the steam gun-boats, which are replacing throughout the Archipelago the heavy sailing-boats (“faluas”) previously employed, Iloilo has been supplied with two. These have, in some measure, promoted correspondence and communication with the neighbouring islands and provinces, and occasionally with Manilla, and are likely to prove much more effectual in repressing piracy than the former gun-boats. Recently they have had several encounters with the pirates of the Sooloo Sea, in the immediate neighbourhood of Iloilo, and have brought in 5 pirate “pancos” and other smaller boats, making away with between 200 to 300 of these habitual depredators of the Philippine coasts. It is presumable that this lesson will be productive of good effect for the future. These pirates arrive annually in this neighbourhood from the Sooloo Sea, particularly from the Island of Tawi-Tawi, reaching Panay and Negros-about May. and continuing their depredations until the change ot the monsoon enables them to return, about October and November. The number of captives yearly taken from the coast of Panay, Negros, and other islands, is considerable; and after the occurrence of captures of trading-boats in this vicinity, communication by small craft is suspended for a week or two, the natives, who are not allowed to possess fire-arms, being unwilling to expose themselves to the chance of being carried off. A number of the captives re-taken by the gun-boats in the actions alluded to, and brought in here, were very severely wounded by the pirates on the latter finding escape impracticable. Though communication with the neighbouring islands has been facilitated by the steam gun-boats, a more rapid means of intercourse with Manilla is still a very great desideratum. At times, intervals of more than a month elapse without news from the capital, which is the centre of all advices bearing on trading interests, and gives the standard of value for all the products of the Archipelago. This slowness of intercourse acts most prejudicially, in every way. A steamer, built at Manilla, is said to be about to be started by a Company at Manilla, to run between that port, Iloilo, and Zebu ; and the establishment of a line of this nature would be very advantageous. It is stated that the first trip will be made in September next. It has also been announced by the Manilla Press that the Government will afford at least a monthly communication by steam with the more important provinces, an assertion to which the number of steamers arriving from Spain seems to give confirmation. The offers of subsidy made by Government some time ago for the establishment of merchant-steamers to take the mail to all the provinces were, as you will have noticed, not accepted, owing to the number of conditions with which the contracts were hampered ; but they showed that the Government were alive to the rapidly-growing tradal importance of the provinces, and the consequent necessity of establishing prompt and regular communications.”
Source
Accounts and papers of the House of Commons: thirty-eight volumes. Manufactures and commerce and trading of foreign countries. Session 6 February-7 August 1862, vol. LVIII.
