86 ' AVES ISLAND. 



and by the assistance of the United States minister at Caraccas, ren- 

 dered to the contracting parties under the instructions, or (as you 

 suggest) the ''advice," of the department. 



2. The Venezuelan government has had officers and a military gar- 

 rison on Shelton's Isle ever since the 13th day of December, 1854, 

 when Commander Dias, of the Venezuelan navy, hauled down the 

 United States flag and hoisted that of Venezuela there, and forcibly 

 ousted Mr. Shelton's agents and workmen, and drove his vessels away 

 from the island, &c., and the Venezuelan government are now exer- 

 cising jurisdiction over it. 



3. The Philadelphia Guano Company has been actively engaged 

 since the ejection of Mr. Shelton's agents, &c., and since the arrange- 

 ment it made with the Venezuelan government, and are now actively 

 engaged in the asportation of the guano on Shelton' s Isle under that 

 contract, thus decreasing the quantity of the deposit there and greatly 

 injuring his interests therein, and essentially impairing the value of 

 his rights with respect to the isle and in the guano deposit first dis- 

 covered by him, (per his agents,) and peaceably and rightfully pos- 

 sessed by him when so forcibly ejected. 



4. The Venezuelan government persists in denying Mr. Shelton's 

 eights with respect to the isle, and also have not yielded to him any 

 indemnification whatever for the injuries sustained by him by the 

 aggression of its officers, under its authority, more than a year since, 

 and for the continued usurpation of his rights. 



5. The course of the United States minister at Caraccas in reference 

 to Mr. Shelton's claim, has displayed feelings beyond mere indifier- 

 ence to his rights, and Mr. Shelton and his friends had a profound 

 conviction that his course merited reproof beyond that for inexcusable 

 remissness and 'disregard of the primary instructions of the depart- 

 ment in relation to the prosecution of the claims, and that he had lent 

 the influence of his official position in aid of the consummation of 

 measures prejudicial to Mr. Shelton's rights and interests, and that 

 Mr. Eames was in fact interested in feeling, if not otherwise, with the 

 Philadelphia speculators, and in disregard of the instructions or "ad- 

 vice' ' of the department, in respect to the rendition of his good offices 

 to that company, did aid in effecting an arrangement that materially 

 militates against Mr. Shelton's interests. 



It seems to me quite apparent that the facts stated must have inad- 

 vertently escaped your particular notice in the haste of dictating your 

 brief and prompt reply. 



The official notice I inclosed to you was signed bj^ the Venezuelan 

 consul and the president of the Philadelphia Guano Company. It 

 ]3urported to be the conjoint act of the government of Venezuela and 

 of that company. It was an authoritative, official warning to the 

 government of the United States and its citizens, and to ''the rest of 

 mankind." It officially threatened the '' seizure" of all vessels 

 " toucJiing at any of the guano islands under the jurisdiction of Venezu- 

 ela" in the Caribbean sea, with the sole exception of Margaritta, and 

 excepting those vessels having a permit from the Philadelphia Guano 

 Company ! It would seem from your note that you were under the 

 impression that the notice did not relate to Shelton's Isle, and that. 



