Pressed for the details of their desires, he said that "the function of a protector is to protect." Further than that he could not go.

I tried to convince him of the hopelessness of the course the Filipinos were then pursuing and of the kindly intentions of my government, but felt that I made no impression on him.
We arrived at Manila on March 4, 1899, too late to land.

Firebugs were abroad.

We watched a number of houses burn, and heard the occasional crackle of rifle fire along the line of the defences around the city.

The next morning there was artillery fire for a time at San Pedro Macati.