70 AVES ISLAND. 



to depend upon, but I shall stick until tlie last, but I fear the time will 

 be short. The Carlo will come to Boston. 

 Yours obedient, 



NATHAN P. aiBBS. 

 Philo S. Shelton. 



G. 



Sir: I last wrote you via St. Thomas, informing you of the state 

 of affairs here. We are expecting daily to be stopped, but I shall 

 work as long as I can and get the best. The Amazon, will sail Satur- 

 day for Falmouth. Her cargo will make a good average. She has 

 in *rO tons, like the Dow's, former cargo, and 300 of No. 4 of my first 

 samples, mixed one third decomposed coral. I shall try to finish her 

 the same as I am going on. The Viator will sail soon. I look daily 

 for the Mary Pearce. I hope I'll not have to wait, as I don't know 

 how long I may be allowed to wait. I am out of coifee and some other 

 trifling things, which I shall not order ; if I can get it out of the 

 vessels I will do so. You will probably see Mr. H. Lang, who- can 

 inform you the particulars. He sends another vessel away to-day 

 empty. 



Your obedient, 



NATHAN P. GIBBS. 



Philo S. Shelton. 



H. 



United States of America, ) ^^ . 



State, City and County of New York, S 



By this public instrument of declaration and protest, Be it known 

 •and made manifest unto all whom it doth, may, or shall concern : 

 'That on this twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord one 

 -thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, before me, John Neilson, a notary 

 /public in and for the county and city of New York, in the State of 

 New York, duly and by lawful authority admitted, commissioned, and 

 ■sworn, and residing and practicing in the city of New York and State 

 aforesaid, personally came and appeared George W. Nickels, master of 

 the ship James N. Cooper, and together with him come and appear 

 Henry C. Dearborn, first mate, and Patrick Scallan, second mate, all 

 of and belonging to the said ship; all of whom being by me severally, 

 duly, and solemnly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, 

 voluntarily and freely depose and say: That they sailed in and with 

 said ship on the fifteenth day of January, one thousand eight hundred 

 and fifty-five, from the port of New York, bound for Bird Island for 

 & cargo of guano ; that said island is situated in latitude 15° 40' north, 



