276 AVES ISLAND. 



upon the subject, and am confident that I had no distinct opinion uj^on 

 the subject, not having examined it, but was then, and am now, under 

 the impression that the island did not belong to that government, and 

 the use of force was a great wrong and unwarranted ; and if it proved 

 the island did not belong to Venezuela, that Mr. Shelton was entitled 

 to all damages sustained, and full compensation for the willful wrong. 

 Kespectfully^. JAMES GUTHKIE. 



Mr. Appleton to 3Ir. Sanford. 



Departme]S[T of State, 

 Wasliington, September 4, 1857. 

 Sir: I have to acknowledge the receipt of your communication ot 

 the 31st ultimo^ with the inclosed original letter to you from the Hon'. 



James Gruthrie, of the ultimo, in which he emphatically denies 



having expressed himself unfavorably respecting Mr. Shelton' s claim 

 upon Venezuela, as is ascribed to him in a letter purporting to be ad- 

 dressed to the "Diario de los Avisos/' of Caraccas, and published in 

 that paper of the month of April last. 



As you think that the impression which would naturally be created 

 by such a statement from such a source should not remain uncorrected, 

 a copy of your letter, and of its inclosure, will be forwarded to Mr. 

 Eames. 



I am, &c., • JOHN APPLETON, 



Assistant Secretary. 

 Henry S. Sanford, Esq., 



Brevoort House, Neiu Yorh. 



3Ir. Cass to Mr. Eames. 



No, 54.] Department of State, 



Washington, September 4, 1857. 



Sir: I inclose a copy of a communication, of the 31st ultimo, from 

 H. S. Sanford, Esq., and of the inclosure therein referred to, in which 

 the Hon. James Guthrie denies having given utterance to certain ex- 

 pressions, imputed to him, unfavorable to Mr. Shelton's clain^ upon 

 Venezuela, and which were published in the '^Diario de Avisos," of 

 Caraccas, in April last, under the signature of Mr. De la Cova. 



If you think, as Mr. Sanford believes you do, that Venezuela places 

 any reliance upon these supposed views of Mr. Guthrie, as sustaining 

 her resistance to the claim of Mr. Shelton and his associates, or if you 

 find upon returning to Caraccas that such a disposition is manifested, 

 the letter of Mr. Guthrie will enable you to remove any missappre- 

 hension of that character. 



I am, sir, your obedient servant, 



LEWIS CASS. 



Pharles Eames, Esq., dtc. 



