278 O'CONNOR ON TRINIDAD AND THE ORINOCO. [Jan. 26, 18^. 



4. On Trinidad and the Orinoco. By Lieut.-Col. J. Smyth O'Connor, 

 F.R.G.S., Governor of tlie Gambia. 



After a brief sketcli of the history of Trinidad, alluding to its 

 discovery by Columbus, to its conquest by an English force under 

 Abercrombie in 1798, and to the most distinguished of its subse- 

 quent Governors, the natural features, products, and resources of 

 the island were described. The commanding situation of Trinidad, 

 with reference to the navigation of the great river Orinoco, and the 

 productive character of the countries on the banks of that stream, 

 rendered it remarkable that no efforts had been made to establish 

 steam-communication through that important channel between 

 Trinidad and the interior of the South American continent. Horses, 

 cattle, wheat, and produce of all kinds and of the finest quality, can 

 be raised on its banks; while its navigable waters offer great 

 facilities for disposing of English manufactures in the interior, 

 reaching westward nearly to the capital city of Bogota, and south- 

 wards within a short distance of the navigable Eio Negro, a branch 

 of the Amazon. 



In conclusion, the proposal of Admiral Elliot to explore the 

 Orinoco, to ascertain the extent of its navigable waters and the 

 means of connecting them with the navigation of the Amazon, was 

 strongly urged by the author, as a matter of great importance to 

 English commerce, particularly in connection with Trinidad. 



The President thanked Colonel O'Connor for his communication respecting 

 the advantages to be derived from a farther exploration of the Orinoco, vrith 

 reference to the very fine colony which he had described in such a graphic 

 manner. Colonel O'Connor had followed up the proposition of Admiral Elliot, 

 and he was sure if the recommendation of the Geographical Society was com- 

 municated to her Majesty's Government, that something would accrue to the 

 advantage of science, and he should hope to the eventual interests of the 

 country. He had hoped also to have received a communication from Baron 

 Humboldt, to whom he wrote about ten days ago, explaining that the Society 

 had had one communication, and were about to have another, on the import- 

 ance of opening up the navigation of the Orinoco. Perhaps the communica- 

 tion would come on a later day, and that he should be able to read it at a sub- 

 sequent meeting. Th'e Government had decided to make a mineral survey of 

 the West India isles. As Superintendent of the Geological Survey of England, 

 he liad been directed by Her Majesty's Government to appoint two gentlemen 

 to make this survey. Trinidad would be the first, and he trusted the result 

 would show the importance and value of that colony. 



