146 . AVES ISLAND. 



furnislied a detailed statement January 15^ 1856, and whicli we have 

 understood the department presented to the Venezuelan governmentj 

 amounting to |341,000. On the first day of next session, if the depart- 

 ment does not advise to the contrary, we intend to solicit from Con- 

 gress to grant us letters of reprisal under the law of nations, to enable 

 us to obtain that justice Venezuela denies us. 



If the department desires a reference to the authorities on this sub- 

 ject, it will be cheerfully furnished in full. There can be no doubt of 

 the remedy, and as a "^peaceful remedy." 



We have not learned that anything having the appearance of an 

 intention to do justice is manifested by Venezuela, and feel that the 

 continued delay is inexcusable. She continues skinning"the isle of the- 

 guano. 



Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



H. S. SANFOED. 



Hon. William L. Marcy, 



Secretary of State, &c. 



P. S. — I would respectfully ask that a copy of this letter be trans- 

 mitted to Mr. Eames, to be shown to the Venezuelan government. 



H. S. S. 



Mr. Marcy to Mr. Sanford. 



Department of State, 



Wasliington, July 21, 1856. 



Sir : The urgency of other important business requiring the atten- 

 tion of the department, has prevented an earlier acknowledgment of 

 the receipt of your letter of the 11th instant to the Assistant Secretary, 

 and of the 15th to myself. 



In compliance with the request made in the former letter, the depo- 

 sitions of Captain Wheeler^ of John McCabe, and of Eicharcl Thornell, 

 will be transmitted to Mr. Eames so soon as it is practicable to make 

 copies of Wheeler's and Thornell' s, which, as you are aware, are 

 somewhat voluminous. 



In relation to the sufficiency of these proofs, with those formerly 

 transmitted, to sustain Mr. Shelton's claim against the Venezuelan 

 government, I deem it proper to correct the error into which you ap- 

 pear to have fallen in your letter of the 11th, wherein you state that 

 you "presume from the remark in your [the Assistant Secretary's] 

 letter of the 8th instant, ' it is deemed inexpedient to cumulate further 

 testimony,' &c., that the Department is satisfied that I have already 

 furnished more than sufficient on all the points involved;" and you 

 express your happiness that you are relieved from the task of procuring 

 any additional proofs. Were your quotation from that letter precisely 

 correct;, your felicitations would not be unfounded. Quoting probably 

 from memory, you have failed to appreciate the spirit of the suggestion 

 offered in the letter of the department of the 11th instant. Therein it 

 was stated that " it is deemed inexpedient to cumulate further testimony 

 until it is known upon what points the government of Venezuela fail 



