Manila, 26th September.
Admiral Dewey is not sleeping. The blockade of Manila may be over but the ships of his fleet are always in readiness for any work that may be required whether acting on the moment or executing some carefully planned order. This is why.the steamer Abbas has been seized by his ce: mand snd a prize crew placed on board of her. When the AfeCulloch came steaming up the bay yesterday with the Abbas not far away it did not take long for the news to reach Manila that the latter had been captured on the information that she was being used to smuggle arms from Shang!
Is of diplomacy and calm judgment pines, which is contrary both to American prevail not only among the Americans and Spanish regulations for the islands. hut among the insurgents. There is un-'The seizure was the chief topic of discus-Aoubtedly a certain military element among sion from the headquarters down to corner the Americans, arriving here too late for groups of soldiers and natives. combat with the Spaniards, that would not Ever since I first wrote you to the effect dislike a brush with the natives if the latter that arms were being smuggled into the provoked it, and such element naturally lesser ports of Luzon, all sorts of rumours pictures Aguinaldo as being worse than he have been floating around, with apparently really is and his army as being stronger very good evidence of their reliability, and and larger than it actually is, so that in everybody has wondered why nothing has case of collision where the Americans would been done to check such illicit imports. surely be victorious they would gain glory At Inst action has been taken. When the which would not be deserved if the real Admiral received what he deemed respon-facts were understood. Likewise Aguinaldo sible reports on. the whereabouts of a has some leaders like Pilar inthe vicinity smuggling vessel hie sent out the McCulloch of Paco and Macalulus at Tarlac who, with instructions to bring her in at all hazards. Captain Hooper of the MfeOidloch up by false pride refuse to obey all the foolish in their own ignorance and puffed
is an old experienced hand in watching commands of Aguinaldo and may yet bring coast lines for similarly engaged craft an him into serious trouble despite his own when he went out on his mission the Ad-wishes and plans. Aguinaldo himself, I miral was sure that if anything was in am convinced, is using his induenco in the sight anywhere Hooper would capture it. right way.
While the Abbus was not caught in flag-in a recent issue of the Press was a long route delicto and had at the time only extract from an alleged private letter xbout 25 stands of rifles aboard, there was printed in.a Singapore paper, purporting abundant evidence that she had already to tell the truth about many points not Ianded her contraband goods. She was before clear. The tone of it showed that found in one of the lesser harbours along the writer sympathized with the natives, the coast well hidden from ordinary pass-wished to criticise the Americans, and both ing vessels, She is now in the hands of a generally and specially endeavoured to tell prize crew. the story from a very personal standpoint.
The Cortes case, as it is commonly des-AIL I have to svy is that, among all the ignoted, is attracting much attention hi reports of the capture of Manila that I have The Cortes family is well known in Phi read, including descriptions of the whole me circles in Hongkong because some of situation, none were more prejudiced and its principal members, have lived the Inst partial than this alleged private letter. two years there. one of the oldest This permits me to warn people in Hong: and richest fami the island and the kong, Singapore, and Shanghai against all different branches of it have always held a intensely told and coloured stories of prominent place among the best class of affairs and in about Manila. The air is natives and been respected by the Spaniards full of all kinds of rumours, most of aswell. Like many other well-to-do natives which are made up. from the imagina-they fell under the ban of Spain's suspicion tions of persons more hnirbrained than and without reason and proof the heads of reliable. There is much to criticise and the house were accused and even tried for much to praise in the administration of all sorts of crimes and trumped-up charges military and civil government, and the as an excuse for getting rid of them or situation will remain most, unsatisfactory seizing their property. In the meantime as long as no one knows what the future the insurrection came on and the Cortes has in store, but the delay cannot be family left the Philippines. Their affairs avoided and in the meantime it remains to were in the hands of an agent. The accept matters philosophically and do one's Spar officials removed him and ap-Pointed their own administrator, taking best to solve the problems that daly arise Americans as well as Britishers, Spaniards, Possession of and practically confiscating and Philippines, are alike anxious to learn the vast estate of the Cortes, which the terms of peace. To me it seems re-amounted in value to sum of over one markable that things go along as well as million dollars. The Cortes, however, they do. It is interesting to note that undertook to recover their property and those who complain most are the ones also the case was finally appealed to Madrid. who have the least to lose. The chief mor-There, I am told, the final high court chants are remarkably long-suffering it issued a decree ordering the Governor-their attitude and deserve credit for their General to return the estates, including composure. houses, farms, sugar plantations, fishing Saturday. all the leading merchants here grounds, ete., to the Cortes family pro-met and adopted resolutions against such ¥ided they swore allegiance to Spain wit! administration of the Customs department in six months after notification of the as would permit goods to come in without decree. For various reasons, such as a paying the same duties as the immense misunderstanding as to terms of the order stocks of imports in their hands and yet and the time named, as well as the com-unsold paid under Spanish administration. plications of the insurrection followed by Phey ask for such postponement of the the war between the United States and date of applying the new tariff as will rea-Spain, the property was never turned over sonably permit them to: dispose of the to them and now they seek to recover the major portions of their stocks. This is a same through the-American authorities. st request and should be granted. Mil-Their case is undoubtedly a fair one and ions of dollars worth of goods were imthey will eventually be given justice. ported under Spanish authority which The relations between Agui lo and must be sold at a loss, if the duties which his forces and leaders on one side and the were paid on them are not now exacted on Americans on the other are now excellent. fresh imports. The merchants themselves There is little or no difficulty at present are not to blame for the situation and and good feeling seems to prevail. It was only ask for a brief period to protect fortunate that the surgents marched themselves. Lord Salisbury has been out of Manila. With the occasion for petitioned through the British Consu-friction removed, no more friction has late to use the good offices of the British occurred of any importance. American Government and telegrams have likewise citizens or officers who visit Malolos, been sent to the British Ambassador at Aguinaldo's capital, are treated with all Washington to represent British interest' courtesy and there is no indication of in the matter to American home authorities. suspicion, but rather one of kindly in-'There is much delay and confusion at terest. Of course no one can tell what the Custom House, but it must be remem-the future may bring forth, but present bored that it is the most dificult branch of news points to a permanent condition of the Government to administer successfully. peace with the natives provided the-coun-In no other office is it so hard to please.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.