last words on the deck of the China to the Author of this Book were that the President had invited him to go home and counsel with him, but he had written the substance of what he held to be the way to deal with the Philippines, and would not leave Manila Bay “without peremptory orders to go, until all things here are settled—­settled—­settled,” a characteristic repetition of the important word.  He had already stated he wanted “two battleships” and the Oregon and Iowa were accordingly ordered to join him.  Instead of anticipating pleasure from the ovations that thousands of letters and all callers assure him he could not avoid in this country he sincerely dreads them, and when told what the inevitable was whenever he put his foot on his native shore he said:  “That would be very distasteful to me.”  He is human, and, of course, not insensible of the boundless compliment of the endless enthusiasm of the public regarding him, but he habitually insists that every man in his fleet did his duty on the day of battle and victory, and it would be “injustice to brave men if one man got all the glory.”  The Admiral knows the President’s invitation to him to come home is a standing one, and no limit on it, but the sense of duty of the Admiral, in whose judgment there is perfect confidence, forbids.  The information of his declining health will certainly result in his recall overruling his personal feeling and official purpose, if it is believed that there is danger he is sacrificing himself.

NOTES

[1] In another chapter of this story of the Philippines will be found Senor Filipe Agoncillo’s personal account of this affair.

[2] Principally to Singapore.

[3] Principally to Japan.

[4] Principally to Singapore.

[5] Tagalo.—­Name of one of the tribes of Indians inhabiting the Philippine Islands.—­Trans.  Note.

[6] Tinapa.—­Small white-bait fish, which, mixed with rice, constitutes the daily diet of the lower class of natives in the Philippine Islands.—­Trans.  Note.

[7] Gallego.—­Native of Galicia, northwestern Province in Spain.  On account of their healthy and robust constitution, the lower class of Gallego are found employed in the hardest work throughout the country, where physical strength is necessary, although they are considered slow and lazy.  Their predominant characteristic seems to be an insatiable greed of hoarding money.—­Trans.  Note.

[8] Cataluna.—­Province of Spain, which capital is Barcelona.—­Trans.  Note.

[9] This account of Magellan is from Antonio de Marga’s rare volume published in Mexico.