94 Timehri. 
—this was refused, then I asked to be sent unde. Police escort ; this was refused 
also, but I was told I might send for servants. 
Onthe morning of 18th I wrote and sent a letter to the Governor, in which I 
respectfully stated that I had answered all the questions he had put to me plainly 
and without attempt at equivocation, that I do not and did not attempt to dis- 
guise my identity or the purpose of my visit, and since my arrival in the Country 
had done nothing against its Laws, that if he desired to detain me longer it must be 
on some specific charge and in due legal form and not by arbitrary force which was 
against the Laws of all civilised nationalities. I pointed out to him that I did not 
visit the territory as a private individual, but as an official from the neighbouring 
Colony of British Guiana and that I had given him a copy of my instructions. 
[ further begged to remind him of the present strained relations existing between 
Her Majesty's Government and that of Venezuela and any aggressive act 
on the part of the Officers of either Government might lead to consequences which 
both Governments would regret and find difficult to amend, and that if after con- 
sideration of what I had written he still detained me the responsibility would rest 
onhim and have to be explained to the satisfaction of Her Majesty's Government. 
Shortly after delivery of this letter the Prefecto brought me another citation to 
attend before the Governor at 3 that afternoon. This document he wanted me to 
sign and allow him to take away. As he would not give me the document L 
would not sign it. 1 explained to him that I did not wish to be in any way dis- 
respectful to His Excellency the Governor, but if the document was a citation and 
directed to me it must be mine, as also if it was a letter, it became the property of 
the person to whom it was addressed, and I would not sign any document in a 
foreign language of which I could not have a copy. I further said that I would 
attend on the Governor at any time he might desire, as by his own command | 
could not leave the Town. The Prefecto went away and returned a second time 
with a like result. I received no answer to my letter that day or since. 
At 3 p. m. the time appointed, accompanied by Mr. Weil I went to the Gover- 
nor’s Office. There I met the same officials as on the former occasion. After all 
were seated L asked that I might be allowed to speak. Permission being granted, 
in a few words I asked the Governor that if I had been guilty of any offence against 
the laws of the country, | might be punished for it, and if I had not I might 
be allowed to go where I desired, that was to complete my return journey by 
the way [had come. I reminded him that I was an official of Her Majesty's 
Colony of British Guiana and had entered the tountry as such, and was 
there not as a private individual but in the execution of certain duties 
assigned to me by the Governor of the Colony. The Governor then accused me 
of threatening him, and treating him with no more respect than if he was an 
Indian Captain, and referred to my letter of the morning as a threat also. 1 
replied that it was not so intended, and considered it my duty to do all that lay 
in my power to prevent a further widening of the breach that existed between Her 
Majesty’s Government and that of Venezuela, and that I was accountable to my 
Government for my proceedings, and I did not wishit to appear that I had been 
negligent in accurately bringing to his notice conditions for his consideration 
which if neglected might eventually lead to serious consequences. 
