378 AVES ISLAND. 



Dr. Mariano Briceno, to proceed to the United States, notwithstanding 

 the presence there of another diplomatic agent of the republic. All 

 this will convince Mr. Eames of the interest with which the republic 

 views a subject which now occupies it in so many ways, and with such 

 provisions, through the desire to live in the most perfect understand- 

 ing with the United States, v/hich is a constant aspiration of his excel- 

 lency the President, as his conduct towards them has always manifested, 

 even in the midst of this regretable difference occasioned by the Aves 

 reclamation. 



The undersigned renews to the Hon. Mr. Eames the assurances of 

 his distinguished consideration. 



JACINTO GUTIEKEEZ. 



Hon. Charles Eames, 



Minister Resident of the United States. 



Legation of the United States, 



Caraccas, November 30, 1857. 



Sir: The undersigned, minister resident of the United States, has 

 the honor to acknowledge the note of the Hon. Mr. Gutierrez under 

 date of 23d instant, in which the undersigned, in reply to his notes of 

 2d and 21st instant, is informed that a reply by the Venezuelan gov- 

 ernment to the ''Aves" reclamation having been, in the absence of 

 the undersigned from Venezuela, commenced on the 21st of September 

 last and concluded in October last, has been forwarded to the govern- 

 ment of the United States through the Venezuelan legation in Wash- 

 ington, and that an additional special mission upon the same subject 

 has now been, also, instituted by the government of Venezuela by the 

 appointment of Hon. Senor Mariano Briceno to proceed to Washington 

 with the character of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary 

 of the republic, and this information is communicated to the under- 

 signed as satisfactory proof of the deep interest in the state of that 

 reclamation, by which the Venezuelan government is now induced to 

 adopt such various and special measures for its adjustment. 



It is not the purpose of the undersigned in this note to anticipate the 

 judgment which the government of the United States may form as to 

 the sufficiency and propriety, in the present state of the "Aves" recla- 

 mation, of this course of action by the Venezuelan government, to 

 accomplish the object proposed. But the undersigned is certainly by 

 no means prepared to dispute that the establishment by any govern- 

 ment of a special mission of high grade for the settlement of a recla- 

 mation pending against it, is at. all times a very formal proceeding, of 

 grave significance as to the recognized validity and urgency of such 

 reclamation. Nor does the undersigned fail to perceive that the ante- 

 cedent facts existing in the present case, and in view of which this 

 special mission has been established, greatly augmenting its signifi- 

 cance. Prior to the adoption of this measure the Venezuelan govern- 

 ment received, both from the undersigned and through its own diplo- 

 matic agent in Washington, full assurance from the government of the 



