182 AVES ISLAND. 



Mr. Sanford has also made up a statement of tlie claim, based upon 

 tlie supposed proffer by Venezuela to restore the Aves Isle in question, 

 as either a partial or complete atonement to the claimants for their 

 lossess. The remarks which, in his memorial, he makes upon such a 

 contingency, are approved by the department, and it is not deemed 

 necessary to do more than commend that part of his argument to your 

 particular attention, 



I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



W. L. MAKCY. 



Charles Eames, Esq. 



To tlie Department of State of the United 



Detailed statement of the injuries and damages sustained by Philo 

 S. Shelton and George K. Sampson and Lewis M. Tappan, in con- 

 sequence of their being tortiously evicted, in violation of the law of 

 nations, and of justice and right, by the naval and military forces of 

 the Republic of Venezuela, acting under authority of the government 

 thereof, in the month of December, 1854, of the isle in the Caribbean 

 sea, situate about north latitude 15° 40', and west longitude from 

 Greenwich about 63° 38', formerly called "Aves" or ''Bird Island," 

 and now called ''Shelton's Isle;" and by reason of their being dis- 

 possessed in like manner, by said forces, of the guano on said isle, 

 and of the houses, sheds, wharves or piers, timber, planks, and other 

 fixtures and utensils, boats or launches, barrows, implements, tools of 

 various kinds, buckets, tubs and baskets, water-casks, water and pro- 

 visions, and other articles, their property, then being on said isle, 

 taken by said forces ; and likewise of their injuries and damages other- 

 wise sustained by reason of their expulsion as aforesaid, and the 

 expulsion of their said agents and workmen, and of their vessels 

 therefrom ; and the prohibition and exclusion by said government 

 from visiting said island and taking the guano therefrom, and by the 

 breaking up of their employment and business in the guano trade at 

 the said island; and by keeping the said isle and guano and their said 

 other property from them. The said outrage having been perpetrated 

 without any application, or notice thereof, to the government of the 

 United States. 



I. These claimants claim for 37,500 tons of guano on that part of 

 said isle occupied by them December 26, 1854, of the value of $12 50 

 per ton, being $468, 750 



(See memorandum of claim transmitted to department 

 January 27, 1857, and letter from H. S. Sanford, Esq., to 

 department, of same date, inclosing the same for explana- 

 nation of the above charge.) 



Proofs as to quantity, quality, and value of guano on 

 the isle at the time of the eviction, December 26, 1854: 



1. These claimants, May 9, 1856, filed in the department 

 a copy of a letter from tha, Hon. E. Hammond ("in the 

 absence of the Earl of Clarendon") of the British "Foreign 

 Office," dated April 11, 1856, to. George M. Dallas, the 

 minister plenipotentiary and envoy extraordinary of the 



