AVES ISLAND. 41 



forth to explain any concealment in our letters of the 15th and 29th 

 of January last, or to obviate any injurious effect by the transmission 

 of that permit on the 27th of February. If you desire further proof 

 on this point, and of our want of knowledge of all the circumstances 

 when our first letters were written, we will furnish it so soon as 

 Captain Gibbs returns. If not deemed objectionable by you, we would 

 wish to lay this case before Congress at its next session, by memorial, 

 to sanction by express law the equitable right we conceive we have to 

 the island and guano thereon, subordinate to that of eminent domain 

 and property of the United States, in virtue of our discovery and 

 occupation. 



We would respectfully ask of you to indicate to us, if proper, what 

 course the department may probably pursue in this case, and also 

 what is expected of us, and, if according to rule, that the requests made 

 in our letter of the 14th ultimo may be complied with as information 

 on those points will regulate our conduct. 



We would respectfully request the department to ask Mr. Eames to 

 procure, if practicable, a copy of Dias's official report. 



On the return of the undersigned to Boston, or perhaps in New 

 York, on the way to Boston, we will address you again, and in special 

 reference to another part of this case not yet sufficiently alluded to. 

 We are apprehensive that possibly our rights and interests may be 

 prejudiced by the inadvertent action of our government, which it is 

 reported (on the authority of persons concerned in the combination of 

 speculators heretofore alluded to, located Philadelphia, Caraccas, and 

 St.. Thomas) it has taken, or it is about to take, in behalf of those 

 speculators. We think we understand all who are concerned and the 

 designs of the managing parties. They have sought to swindle Vene- 

 zuela by misrepresentations, and they seek to complicate the United 

 States without regard to the interests or the preservation of the honor 

 of its government, and their scheme is in disregard of our just and 

 honest rights, and they are striving to carry it out to our injury, and 

 any favorable notice the officers of this government may bestow them 

 will be used at Caraccas to satisfy the officials there that the President 

 and yourself are disposed to back them. An indisposition to do any 

 person injustice, or to accuse any one before full investigation, con- 

 strains us to withhold at present a statement of facts, partly prepared, 

 which facts, we are informed, exist with reference to the parties con- 

 cerned in the combination, and are of a character, when fully known 

 to you, that will save us the trouble of any express remonstrance by 

 us against the government of the United States encouraging it by any 

 words, or in any manner, or to any extent. A different course will be 

 certain to lead the government into difficulties, and to embarrass, if 

 not compromit, the enforcement of our just claims. 



We are apprehensive that the fair prospect of the arrangement of 

 this unpleasant business so as to save ourselves harmlessly a sale and 

 transfer of our rights in Shelton's Isle, with the permission of our 

 government to certain English and French merchants, (who feel satis- 

 fied they would have the protection of their government,) is destroyed 

 by our being without any reply to our request on that subject, in our 

 letter of the 14th ultimo. Indeed, from our not having any significa- 



