84 AVES ISLAND. 



islands under the jurisdiction of the republic of Venezuela, with the 

 single esception of that of the island of Margaritta, all vessels found 

 touching at any of the guano islands, except those having a permit 

 from the Philadelphia Gruano Company, duly authenticated, will he 

 seized and held liable for the penalty provided for a violation of the 

 navigation laws of the republic. ^ 



JOSE A. KEEFE, 

 • Consul. 



Mr, Sanford to Mr. Marcy. 



38 Clinton Place, New York, 



January 5, 1856. 



Sir : Since my letter of yesterday I have been surprised upon read- 

 ing the subjoined notice, which appears in the Herald of to-day, and 

 which I have cut from the fifth page of that paper, (fourth column.) 

 Although it is signed by the Venezuelan consul at Philadelphia, as 

 well as the president of the Philadelphia Guano Company, I am not 

 prepared to believe that your instructions that nothing be done to 

 militate against Mr. Shelton's right as to discovery and possession of 

 Shelton's Isle, and his claim for indemnity, based upon that right, 

 have been disregarded. I have deemed it my duty, on behalf of Mr. 

 Shelton, to inclose you the within notice.* 



A few days since I addressed a communication to the President, at 

 his request, which I presumed would be referred to the department, 

 and therefore thought it unnecessary to duplicate it to you. I have 

 deemed it proper, also, in connection with that communication, to 

 transmit to the President, as well as to yourself, the subjoined notice 

 of the Venezuelan consul and the Philadelphia Guano Company. 



I am, with esteem and respect, your obedient servant, 



H. S. SANFOED. 



Hon, William L. Marcy, 



Secretary of State, dc. 



Mr. Marcy to Mr. Sanford. 



Department of State, 

 Washington, January T, 1856. 

 Sir : In reply to your letter of the 3d instant, I have to state that 

 the department perceives no objection to the appointment, by Mr. 

 P. S. Shelton and the other parties interested, of a suitable person to 

 represent them and urge their claim upon the Venezuelan government 

 for the losses sustained by their expulsion from the Aves Islands in 

 the early part of last year. 



*The notice above referred to accompanies the preceding letter to the President. 



