78 TlMEHRI. 



•* the English were about to take the River Orinoco, 

 " and sweep the whole of the Spaniards out of that 

 " territory" \Archivo de Indias. Confidential. Papers^ 

 Carac. lygO'tygd, bundle B.'\. Is it not clear, from 

 the foregoing, that the Spanish Government knew that 

 the Dutch Settlements extended to the very mouth of the 

 Orinoco ? 



The Liberator of South America, the heroic BOLIVAR, 

 is quoted in Venezuelan International Law (p. 174), as 

 having " decreed" that Fort Moruca, " not included," was 

 the Venezuelan Boundary. Here is the statement of 

 the Venezuelan Foreign Office :-^ 



" 18 1 7. — On the 15th of 06lober, 181 7 the Liberator 

 " issued his decree concerning the limits of the Depart- 

 " ments of Venezuela; and in fixing those of the Lower 

 " Orinoco, he says : — * North of the shores of the Orinoco 

 ** * from the mouth of the Caroni as far as the mouth into 

 " ' the sea through Rio Grande, and to the sea-coast as 

 " * far as Fort Maraca, not included ; on the East and 

 " * South the limits of foreign possessions ; on the West 

 " ' those determined for the central Department on the 

 " ' East.' It was then an acknowledged fa6l that the 

 " Northern boundary of Guiana extended as far as the 

 " mouth of the Moroco." 



Every one must respe6l the name of SiMON BOLIVAR. 

 His fame is to South America what that of GEORGE 

 Washington is to North America. But, his " decree" 

 as to limits cannot be taken as infallible. There must 

 be some corroboration, by proofs of Occupation, Pos- 

 session, or exercise of Dominion. Again? why did 

 Bolivar himself, in addressing his compatriots, on one 

 occasion, congratulate them upon having driven out the 



