180 AVES ISLAND. 



Mr. Shelton to 3Ir. Marcy. 



Boston, January 31^ 1857. 



Sir : I am informed that by a vessel wliicli arrived at New York the 

 day after Mr. H. S. Sanford sailed for St. Thomas, (the 28th,) that an 

 agent (a Mr. Leon de la Cova) of the Philadelphia Guano Company 

 arrived from Caraccas via Porto Cabello, with a new contract made 

 about the 15th of December last, between the present Venezuelan gov- 

 ernment and that company, for all the guano islands in the Caribbean 

 sea, the company agreeing to yield six dollars per ton "royalty" 

 hereafter for all the guano gathered, and to pay all the damages and 

 protest fees on its dishonored bills of exchange under the old contracts, 

 and being thereupon released from all liability on account of said bills. 



I am informed also that the contract in the possession of said agent, 

 and shown by him, was duly authenticated and certified by the United 

 States minister at Caraccas, under his official seal, and presume there- 

 fore that he has transmitted a copy or fully advised the department 

 thereof. 



With reference to the fact of the increase of the royalty, the contract 

 may be an important piece of evidence for us, as showing what the 

 parties value the average of Venezuelan guano at, at the islands where 

 they are at no expenses for lading it, and also in other respects ; and 

 this whether or not (in express and specific terms) it includes Aves or, 

 Shelton' s Isle. As I cannot divine any good reason why it would be 

 improper for us to be supplied with it, if it is in the department, I 

 beg to ask you that I may be furnished such copy if it is received, or 

 if received hereafter, so soon as it is received, and if it is not trans- 

 mitted, that I may be furnished with any information respecting it 

 the department may have. 



I should not trouble the department if I was not satisfied ihat my 

 information was correct. 



I would also respectfully solicit to be advised if anything has been 

 received from Mr. Barnes since the dispatch of the 10th of October, a 

 copy of which was furnished to Mr. Sanford; and if so, please address 

 me, directed to H. S. Sanford, Brevoort House, New York, with which 

 direction I shall soonest see it, and it be sooner sent to Mr. Sanford. 

 I can send it to him from thence in a few days. 



I am_, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 



PHILO S. SHELTON, 



For self and others. 



Hon. Wm. L. Marcy, 



Secretary of State. 



Mr. Marcy to Mr. Sanford. 



Department of State, 

 Washington, February 3, 1857. 

 Sir : I have to acknowledge the receipt on the 31st ultimo of your 

 communication dated the 22d ultimo, with its accompanying memo- 

 randum, both of which papers are in triplicate. 



