CHARLES WATERTON, ESQ. xlix 



As my friend Mr. Edmonstone was but in a 

 poor state of health, I thought a change of air 

 would be of service to him. At my earnest entreaty, 

 his name was included in the commission. The 

 governor, at first, intimated a wish for him to go as 

 a private friend ; but, on my remarking that the 

 Spanish forts in the lower part of the Orinoco 

 might refuse assent to his proceeding to Angustura, 

 the capital, unless his name appeared in the com- 

 mission, there was no farther objection on the part 

 of the governor, and his name was put in the com- 

 mission. 



I rashly procured the same favour for a person 

 who had better have staid at home. He never let 

 me rest one moment until I had got the governor to 

 allow him to accompany us. He was in years, and 

 could not speak one word of Spanish. I only saw 

 my error when it was too late. He ill-requited the 

 favour which I had procured for him. 



I now waited on the governor for the last time ; 

 and, after he had imparted to me his private instruc- 

 tions on certain points which he wished me to ascer- 

 tain during my stay in Angustura, he gave me my 

 commission, together with the despatches of Ad- 

 miral Collingwood, for the captain general of the 

 Orinoco. The commission is dated Aug. 2. 1808. 



I sailed from Demerara in the Levina flag of truce. 

 After we had doubled Point Barim'a, we found the 

 current rushing down with astonishing rapidity, and 

 carrying with it enormous fragments of trees into 

 the Atlantic Ocean. We soon found it necessary to 

 get the vessel into the eddy water, close to the bank ; 



