AVES ISLAND. 159 



believed iu Venezuela ''that the guano taken from the Aves since the 

 Venezuelan occupation amounts to not more than from 800 to 1,20'0 

 tons, not all of this quantity being very saleable." And he further 

 states that it is confidently asserted that the Aves have been for some 

 time abandoned as valueless. This could hardly be the case if Captain 

 Wheeler's estimate were an approximation to the truth. If, as the 

 attorney of the claimants, you are not -satisfied that the issue should 

 rest upon Captain Wheeler's deposition as to the quantity of first rate 

 guano, it would be advisable to present such further testimony upon 

 this point as may be accessible to you. 



Is is to be regretted that this department is ignorant of the position 

 which the Venezuelan government assumed after Mr. Eames had re- 

 ceived my communication of the 14th August, already adverted to, 

 and had presented to that government the views therein expressed. 

 So long ago as the 15th March last our minister in Venezuela ex- 

 pressed the hope of soon being able to submit to this department a 

 proposition for the adjustment of the claim. No such proposition, 

 however_, has yet been received from him. It is possible that the ac- 

 companiments to my dispatch of the 14th August may have facilitated 

 the adoption of some basis of settlement. 



Wishing, as well for the sake of the claimants as for other obvious 

 reasons, to promote the early adjustment of this question, the depart- 

 ment would prefer to pursue such a course as would commend itself to 

 the cordial satisfaction of the parties interested. If they are content 

 to await the possible results of the last instructions to Mr. Eames upon 

 the subject, no further measures will be immediately undertaken. If, 

 however, they doubt the sufficiency of the proceedings instituted by 

 the department^ and think that their interests would be promoted by 

 the presence at Caraccas of an agent of their own selection, it is not 

 doubted that such a representative might, concurrently with the min- 

 ister of the United States, do much to effect a more speedy adjustment 

 of their claim. 



If this view of the case should be acceptable to them, the department 

 will extend the same facilities to such an agent as were afforded to the 

 private agent of the Philadelphia Guano Company, whose visit to 

 Caraccas under an introduction and with dispatches from this depart- 

 ment were not unproductive of its advantages to the party represented 

 by him. 



I am, &c., 



W. L. MAKCY. 



Henry S. Sanford, Esq., 



Attorney of Fhilo S. Shelton, Brevoort House, N. Y. 



Mr. Sanford to Mr. 3Iarcy. 



Brevoort House, Neav York, 



December 27, 1856. 

 - Sir: I have received but this morning, on my return here from 

 Connecticut, your letter of the 23d instant, with its inclosures, to wit: 



