6 AVES ISLAND. 



Fourth. We think we have good reasons for believing that the gov- 

 ernment of Venezuela has, /or a consideration, undertaken to eject us, 

 to allow other parties to avail of the value of our discoveries under 

 the shadow of protection of that government, who are really irre- 

 eponsible as to any just pecuniary claims, and therefore indifferent 

 to them. The undersigned believe this to be a case Avhere simple 

 justice requires the interference of this government to protect the inter- 

 ests of her citizens which are trampled upon in this outrageous manner 

 by a foreign power without shadow of right. They do not ask the 

 island to be protected as a national territory, but that the Venezuelan 

 government he made to relinquish a possession to which they can show 

 not even the semblance of a title. 



All the foregoing is respectfully submitted, and the protection of 

 the government solicited. 



SAMPSON & TAPPAN, 

 PHILO S. SHELTON. 



Hon. W. L. Marcy, 



Secretary of State for the United States. 



Messrs. Sampson & Tappan and Shelton to Mr. Marcy. 



Boston, January 29, 1855. 



Sir: Under date of 15th January current the undersigned addressed 

 you a representation of the aggression committed upon them by the 

 government of Venezuela, taking forcible possession of the Islas Aves, 

 or Bird Island, held by their agent and men under him in the employ 

 of the undersigned, now beg to inform you that their agents and men 

 have been forcibly ejected from the island by the force of Venezuela 

 sent for that purpose. The undersigned have suffered large losses in 

 consequence of this summary ejection, by the loss of their establish- 

 ment and appliances for loading guano, placed there at heavy expense, 

 and by false freights on various ships that have to return without car- 

 goes, and these losses are positive. Further, they consider themselves, 

 entitlfed to the sum of damages for the loss of tlie profit they could 

 have realized by collecting, shipjoing, and selling the guano on said 

 island, of which they have been so unjustifiably forced to relinquish 

 by Venezuela. 



The undersigned inclose a statement of such damages, and implore 

 the aid of the executive department of government to exact the same 

 from the Venezuelan government, believing it to be just and reason- 

 able that they should pay the undersigned the damages they have sus- 

 tained by the illegal acts of said government. 



SAMPSON & TAPPAN, 

 PHILO S. SHELTON. 



Hon. W. L. Marcy, 



Secretary of State of the United States. 



