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- 
l^ain during my stay in Angustura, he gave me my 
commission, together with the despatches of Ad- 
miral Colling wood, 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 Barima, 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 ; 
c 
