A Spanish galleon and the naval arsenal at Cavite according to Frank S. Marryat

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. He made his notes white on board of the HMS Samarang on a surveying cruise in 1843-1846. The Samarang left 25 January 1843 Portsmouth and went to Spithead where she departed the next day for her cruise.

P. 196: “Caviti was once a place of great importance, having been the capital of Luzon, from whence the galleons conveyed the treasure to Spain. The arsenal still remains, but in a very dilapidated state: we found the artificers busily employed completing some gunboats and small schooners, which were intended to accompany the Esperanza, Spanish frigate, in an expedition to an island off Borneo, where the Esperanza had latterly sustained a defeat from the pirates who inhabited the island.


At Caviti lie the remains of an old Spanish galleon, one of the few which had the good fortune to escape Commodore Anson. The whole of one side of the vessel is gone, and she is now fast falling to pieces, but the Spaniards look upon her with great reverence. She is a relic of their former grandeur; and I was informed by a Spanish gentleman that she never would be broken up. I looked upon her, if not with reverence, at least with sympathy ; and as I made a sketch of her my thoughts naturally turned to the rise and fall of empires, and I communed with myself as to what would be the date in which England would be in the same position as modern Spain, and fall back upon her former glories by way of consolation for her actual decay.”

Source
Frank S. Marryat. Borneo and the Indian Archipelago with drawings of costume and scenery. London, 1848.

Spanish registership St. Raphael also called Pallas captured by British Caroline 27 January 1807?

According to a letter dated 25 February 1807, written by captain Rainier, commanding the British Caroline, he sailed towards the 26th towards the strait of St. Bernardine. Early in the morning of the next day was at the leeward a ship noticed. Being chased the latter fled towards Albay. When both ships came in gunshot distance, the unknown ship showed the Spanish colours and shot at the Caroline. After a fight the Spanish ship surrendered with 27 men dead or wounded. After boarding by the British, it became clear that is was the registership St. Raphael also called Pallas, armed with 16 guns, and belonging to the Royal Company of the Philippines with a crew of 97 men and commanded by don Juan Baptista Monteverde. She left Lima, Peru 12 November last year (1806?) towards Manilla with a cargo of 500.000 Spanish dollars cash and 1700 quintals of copper and other valuable stores.

Source

The Naval Chronicle vol. XIX January-June 1808, p.78.

The Manila galleon according to Rev. Edward Clarke in 1760 and 1761

Ron van Maanen

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. Clarke supplied more information about the so-called Manila galleon which departed during centuries from Manila towards Acapulco and which galleons were known for the value of their cargoes.

P. 257: The Spanish trade to South America is carried on by annual ships, usually divided into three classes, the Flota, the Register Ships, and Galleons; of which the following is the most accurate account I could meet with.”

p. 259: “The whole trade between the East Indies and Spanish America, is carried on by one great Galleon, which arrives at Acapulco from the Philippine islands, on the coast of China, in the month of December. They fee no other land in their whole voyage of 3000 leagues, which they perform in five months, than the Little Ladrones. The ship is laden with all the rich commodities of the East, as cloves, pepper, cinnamon, nutmegs, mace, china, japan wares, callicoes plain and painted, muslins of every fort, silks, precious stones, rich drugs, and gold dust. At the fame time the rich ship from Lima

p. 260: comes in, and is not computed to bring less than, two millions of pieces of eight in silver, (450,000 l. Sterling) Several other ships from the different parts of Chili and Peru, meet upon the same occasion; and besides the traffic for the Philippine commodities, this causes a very large dealing for every thing which those countries have to exchange with one another, as well as for the purchase of all sorts of European goods. The fair at Acapulco lasts sometimes for thirty days. As soon as the goods are disposed of, the galleon prepares to set out on her voyage to the Philippines with her returns, chiefly in silver, but with some European goods too, and some other commodities of America. I speak here, as though there were but, one; vessel on the trade with the Philippines; and in fact these is only nominally one trading vessel, the galleon itself, of about 1200 tons; but another attends her commonly as a fort of convoy, which generally carries such a quantity of goods, as in great measure disables her from performing that office; The galleon has often above 1000 people on board, either interested in the cargo, or merely passengers; and there is no trade in which so large profits are made; the captain of the vessel, the; pilots, the mates, and even the common sailors, making, in one voyage, what in their several ranks may be considered as easy fortunes. It is said by the writer of Lord Anson’s voyage, that the Jesuits have the profits of this ship to support their missions. This commerce to so vast a value, though carried on directly between different parts of the King of Spain’s own dominions, enriches them in proportion but very little; the far greater part of every thing which comes from the Philippines, being the produce, or fabric of other countries. The Spaniards add none of the artificial value of labour to any thing. The Chinese are largely interested in (his cargo; and it is to them they are indebted for the manufacturing such of their plate, as is wrought into any better fashion than rude ingots, or inelegant coins. When this Acapulco Fair is over, the town is comparatively deserted; however, it remains for the whole year the most considerable port in Mexico for the trade with Peru and Chile, which is not very great.”

Source

Rev. Edward Clarke. Letters concerning the Spanish nation: written at Madrid during the years 1760 and 1761. London, 1763.

Note

1. This note is added by me. The in the text mentioned Lord Anson is George Anson, 1st Baron Anson (23 April 1697-6 June 1762) who was appointed in 1740 as commodore while commanding a squadron which was to attack the Spanish South American colonies during the so-called War of Jenkin’s Ear. This expedition was a failure although he succeeded in capturing the Manila galleon Nuestra Señora de Covadonga off Cape Espiritu Santo on 20 June 1743. The prize captured with her 1,313,843 pieces of eight. The cargo was sold at Macau to the Chinese inhabitants.  

Ships arrived at Wampho in 1813

American ships
Katharina, 287 tons, captain W. Blanchard, arrived 22 January coming from North West coast of America.
Hunter, 296 tons, captain W. Rogers, arrived 28 January coming from Marquesat.
America, 493 tons, captain A. Mather, arrived 30 January coming from Marquesat.
Ann, 396 tons, captain J. Pawson, arrived 7 February coming from Baltimore.
Beaver, 427 tons, captain G. Sowle, arrived 10 February coming from North West coast.
Olain, 280 tons, J. Winship, arrived 15 February coming from Sandwich, departed 15 April for Sandwich.
Isabella, 209 tons, captain W. Davis, arrived 15 February coming from Sandwich, departed 15 April for Sandwich.
Lelia Byre, 175 tons, captain J.A. Thomas, arrived 15 February coming from Sandwich.
Levant, 264 tons, captain T. Proctor, arrived15 February coming from South America.
Meridian, 375 tons, captain A. Jordan, arrived 26 February coming from Madras.
Pensilvania Packet, 287 tons, captain W. Lewis, arrived 22 March coming from Marquesat, departed 25 April for North West coast.
Albatros, 165 tons, captain W, Smith, arrived 25 March coming from Sandwich, departed 15 April for Sanwich.
Brutus, 198 tons, captain W. Dorr, arrived 13 May coming from Sandwich.

St. Fernando, a Spanish Company ship, J. Couceyre, arrived 6 July coming from Manilla, 10 December departed for Manilla
.
Source
Collectie Goldberg 1578-1830 inv.no. 144 I (National Archive at The Hague).