AVES ISLAND. 97 



relation to this case, for the copying of which I will cheerfully pay, 

 as in the instance of the brief filed by me in June last. 



I have the honor to inclose you a copy of the power of attorney to 

 me from Philo S. Shelton and Sampson & Tappan, with power of sub- 

 stitution, to be filed in the department. I also send the original for 

 comparison by the department and for your satisfaction, but which 

 original, as it is necessary to use it otherwise than before the depart- 

 ment, I request may be transmitted to me. 



If any additional authentication is necessary it shall be made upon 

 intimation by the department, 



I am, sir, with the highest respect, your obedient servant, 



H. S. SANFOED. 



Hon. Wm. L. Maroy, 



• Secretary of State, &c. 



P. S.-^Mr. Shelton has sailed for the West Indies from this port, 

 of which I apprise you in order that any letters for him in relation to 

 this case may be addressed to me. 



H. S. S. 



United States of America. 



Know all men by these presents, that we, George R. Sampson and 

 Lewis W. Tappan, merchants, doing business as Sampson & Tappan, 

 at Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, and Philo S. Shelton, mer- 

 chant, of Boston aforesaid, having, by our agents, in the spring of 1854, 

 discovered a certain vacant, unoccupied, and desolate guano island, or 

 rock, in the Caribbean sea, in north latitude about 15° 40', and in 

 west longitude from Greenwich about 63° 38'; and whereas the said 

 island was forthwith landed upon and taken possession of by our said 

 agents for us and for the United States of America, of which we are 

 citizens; and whereas, subsequently, and as soon thereafter as was 

 practicable, we dispatched several vessels with materials and many 

 laborers from the United States to said island for the purpose of pro- 

 curing the guano thereon, to which we had acquired a full right in 

 virtue of said premises ; and whereas we, by our agents as aforesaid, 

 having, in June, 1854, taken possession of said island for said object, 

 and called it "Shelton's Isle," (the same having been heretofore de- 

 nominated " Aves Island," or " Bird Island,) and having employed 

 our said laborers in carrying guano therefrom, and erecting tenements 

 and landings on said island, we remained in peaceful and unmolested 

 occupation and possession thereof and of the guano thereon, and were 

 engaged in procuring said guano, and shipping the same for several 

 months, namely, until in the month of December, 1854, when we were, 

 with our said agents and laborers, forcibly ejected from and dispos- 

 sessed of said island and guano, and our tenements, materials, imple- 

 ments, and provisions on said island taken from us by the authority 

 of the government of Venezuela under pretense of claim by the said 

 government to said island and guano, which claim we insist is without 

 Ex. Doc. 10 7 



