136 AVES ISLAND. 



Mr. French to Mr. Marcy. 



Washington, June 15, 1856. 

 Sir: The inclosed copy of a certificate, under oath, of Albert Smith, 

 was forwarded to me by Messrs. .Lang & Delano, of Boston, to be filed 

 in the department with the papers relating to their claim vs. the Vene- 

 zuelan government. 

 Eespectfully, 



B. B. FKENCH, 



Attorney. 

 Hon. William L. Marcy, 



Secretary of State. 



I hereby certify I sailed from Boston, United States of America, in 

 the American brig John K. Dow, Gibbs, master, for the Aves Island, 

 in the Caribbean sea, to procure a cargo of guano, in the month of 

 June, 1854. That I was to take charge of the said vessel on her 

 homeward voyage, provided she procured a cargo of guano, as Captain 

 Gibbs was to remain at the said island. I also certify that I was em- 

 ployed by Philo S. Shelton, merchant of Boston. I further certify 

 that on our arrival at the Ave sisland, we found there the brig M. H. 

 Comery, and that the island had been already taken possession of for 

 Lang & Delano, merchants of Boston, by their agent, Charles H. 

 Lang, who without pay or remuneration permitted Captain Nathan P. 

 Gibbs, agent for P. S. Shelton and others, of Boston, to inclose a por- 

 tion of said island for said Shelton and others. And I further certify 

 that we loaded the brig John K. Dow with guano, and that I, as 

 master, brought said brig to Boston, leaving the island in possession 

 of Charles H. Lang, as agent for Lang & Delano, and Nathan P. 

 Gibbs, as agent for P. S. Shelton and others. 



ALBERT SMITH. 



Commonwealth of Massachusetts, ) 

 County of Suffolk, ) 



Personally appeared before me, Daniel Sharp, jr., a notary public 

 by lawful authority commissioned and duly qualified, Albert Smith, 

 and made oath that the within statement by him subscribed is true 

 according to the best of his knowledge and belief. 



In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed my 

 official seal this day and year above written, 

 [seal.] DANIEL SHARP, Jr. 



Notary Fuhlic. 

 Boston, May 22, 1856, 



