12 AVES ISLAND. 



was forced to return in ballast, after an unsuccessful and very expensive 

 cruise. 



We may add that port charges, or rather anchorage dues, were 

 exacted of our agent by the ofi&cer in charge. 



. We have thus given you an outline of this unfortunate expedition, 

 but for the detail of all the incidents relating to the same, we would 

 respectfully ask your attention to the accompanying statements, duly 

 certified and executed. 



The loss incurred by us in consequence of the course taken by the 

 Venezuelan government in occupying Aves Island as aforementioned, 

 is a serious matter to us, amounting, in round numbers, to some fifteen 

 thousand dollars, and if we have a legal claim against that- govern- 

 ment, as we are constrained to believe, we trust you Avill be willing to 

 take the necessary steps in our behalf to enforce it. 



Asking your early attention to this matter, we are, dear sir, very 

 respectfully, your obedient servants, 



WHEELWKIGHT & COBB. 



Hon. W. L. Marcy, 



Secretary of State. 



A further certificate, signed by the captain and mate of this vessel, 

 has already been forwarded and placed on file in the State Department. 



A. 



New York, i!farc^, 1855. 



I, Warren Wass, master and agent for the owners of the brig 

 Panola, of New York, certify that on the eighteenth day of November, 

 A. D. 1854, I chartered said brig to Messrs, Wheelwright & Cobb, 

 merchants of Boston, for a voyage to the ^'Aves or Bird Island," to 

 procure a cargo of guano, thence to Philadelphia or Baltimore, United 

 States of America. Said Wheelwright & Cobb put on said brig a 

 number of extra men to assist in loading said vessel, as also extra 

 provisions, tools, and implements for the same. They also sent on 

 board their agent, Mr. John H. McClennen, of said Boston, under 

 whose orders I was to act. We sailed from the port of Boston, ac- 

 companied by said McClennen and extra men, &c., in said brig, with 

 ballast, and proceeded on our voyage. We arrived at the '^Aves 

 Island" on the second day of January, A. D. 1855, and anchored. I 

 proceeded on shore with said Mr. McClennen, in order to procure a 

 cargo of guano, in accordance with a permit or order- on the agent of 

 Messrs. Lang & Delano, of Boston. 



Upon getting on shore, found the island in possession of an armed 

 band of men, commanded by one Nicholas Peraro, who demanded of 

 us port charges, stating that the island had been constituted a port of 

 entry by authority of the Colombian or Venezuelan government. We 

 paid the said charges according to his demand. He further informed 

 ^s that Messrs. Lang & Delano's agent and men had left the island 

 by orders of the above-named government a few days previous to our 



