I had no objection to fighting, but I wanted to do it in my own way and at my own time, and rather in the ranks of the rebels themselves than as officer in a foreign force.
This view of the case I represented to Senor Morena, one of the "patriot" agents in London, and asked his advice.
"Why not go to Caracas ?" he said.
"What would be the use of that?
Caracas is in the hands of the Spaniards." "You could get from Caracas into the interior, and do the cause an important service." "How ?" Senor Morena explained that the patriots of the capital, being sorely oppressed by the Spaniards, were losing courage, and he wished greatly to send them a message of hope and the assurance that help was at hand.

It was also most desirable that the insurgent leaders on the field should be informed of the organization of a British liberating Legion, and of other measures which were being taken to afford them relief and turn the tide of victory in their favor.
But to communicate these tidings to the parties concerned was by no means easy.

The post was obviously quite out of the question, and no Spanish creole could land at any port held by the Royalists without the almost certainty of being promptly strangled or shot.

"An Englishman, however--especially an Englishman who had fought under Wellington in Spain--might undertake the mission with comparative impunity," said Senor Morena.
"I understand perfectly," I answered.

"I have to go in the character of an ordinary travelling Englishman, and act as an emissary of the insurgent junta.