AVES ISLAND. 375 



In the mean time, I forbear to add any thing to what has recently- 

 been urged on the part of this government with respect to the claim in 

 question, except to express the earnest hope that the anticipated com- 

 munication of your excellency may be of such si character as to lead to 

 its prompt and amicable adjustment. 



I avail myself of the opportunity to offer, &c.. 



LEWIS CASS. 

 His Excellency Seiior Jacinto Gutierrez, 



Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Venezuela, t&c. 



Mr. Fames to Mr. Cass. 



No. 42.] Legation of the United States, 



Caraccas, December 3, 185T. 



Sir: With reference to my No. 41 and its inclosures relating to the 

 Aves Island claim, I have the honor now to transmit inclosed to the 

 department further correspondence with this government on that sub- 

 ject, being copies and translations of two notes of Mr. Gutierrez to me 

 under dates respectively of 3d and 23d ultimo, with copies of two notes 

 addressed by me to him under dates respectively of 21st and 30th ultimo. 



The department will perceive by this correspondence that in reply to 

 my request under date of 21st ultimo to be apprised of the determination 

 of Venezuela in the Aves Island case, and of any action taken for its 

 prompt adjustment, I am informed by Mr. Gutierrez under date of 23d 

 ultimo that the answer of this government to that reclamation, pre- 

 pared before my return here, has been forwarded to Washington through 

 the Venezuelan legation there, and that in addition to that legation a 

 special mission of the grade of envoy extraordinary and minister plen- 

 ipotentiary has now been established, and is about to proceed to the 

 United States charged with the same subject. The special minister 

 appointed is Seiior Mariano Briceno. He informs me that he shall 

 proceed to the United States by way of St. Thomas and Havana by the 

 packet of the 8th instant, and that he expects to be in Washington oh 

 or before the 1st of January next, Mr. Briceno is the editor of the only 

 daily newspaper published in this city, and is reputed to be a man of 

 ability and accomplishment, but he has not heretofore taken a promi- 

 nent part in politics here, his journal being considered as neutral. 



I have considered that a special mission instituted by any govern- 

 ment to settle a reclamation pending against it is a proceeding of such 

 a character that the resident diplomatic agent of the government making 

 the reclamation can rarely, if ever, with propriety interpose objection 

 to it, except in obedience to specific instructions so to interpose. I have 

 also considered that the institution of such a mission to settle a claim 

 is always a virtual acknowledgment that there is a valid claim requir- 

 ing settlement ; and such acknowledgment is still more clearly implied 

 when, as in this case, the special mission is instituted by Venezuela in 

 full view of the previous announcement by the United States that the 

 liability of Venezuela is too manifest to justify or admit further discus- 

 sion. 



