The British Ministry approved Colonel Draper's plans to invade the Philippines and HMS Seahorse, under Captain Cathcart Grant, was sent to intercept Manila-bound vessels.

The first portion of the invasion fleet sailed from India on 21 July, under Commodore Richard Tiddeman in HMS Elizabeth, followed by the remainder under Vice-Admiral Sir Samuel Cornish, 1st Baronet on 1 August.

He was assisted by Colonel Monson as second in command, Major Scott as adjutant-general, and Captain Fletcher as brigade-major of the East India Company.

[6] Vice Admiral Cornish's fleet, twelve vessels, of which eight carried more than fifty guns apiece, anchored in Manila Bay on 23 September.

"In many places the ditch had never been finished, the covered way was out of repair, the glacis was too low, some of the outworks were without cannon..."[6] On 30 September, a British storeship arrived with entrenching tools but was driven ashore by a gale.

Her stores were landed with greater speed and safety than possible had she remained afloat for the gale continued for several days and forbade the passage of boats through the surf.

[6] Preventing further casualties on both sides (following his Catholic beliefs), acting Governor-General Archbishop Manuel Rojo del Rio y Vieyra surrendered both Manila and Cavite to Draper and Cornish.

Major Fell commanded the garrison as another member of the council[2]: 58, 60 The British occupation of Manila lasted 18 months until the city was returned to Spain in April 1764 according to the 1763 Treaty of Paris.