384 AVES ISLAND. 



I reiterate to Mr, Eames tlie assurances of my distinguished consid- 

 eration. 



JACINTO GUTIERREZ. 



Hon. Charles Eames, 



Minister Resident of the United States. 



Mr. Briceno to Mr. 



[Translation.] 



Legation Extraordinary of Yenezdelato the United States, 



Washington, February 24, 1858. 



Excellent Sir : I liave just received, this day, your excellency's 

 note of the 22d instant, in which you set forth the precedents con- 

 nected with the question of Aves Island, in the sense of the note of the 

 31st of August, 1857, (copy of which was annexed,) transmitted by 

 your excellency to the IJnited States legation in Caraccas. Your note 

 states that Mr. Gutierrez's of the 31st of October last, has in no way 

 succeeded in altering the opinion which the President of the United 

 States has formed as to the responsibility of Yenezuela in the claim 

 referred to, and concludes with a proposition to the effect that, before 

 ^n answer be given to Mr. Gutierrez's said note, an interview should 

 take place at the Department of State, to-morrow, at one, p. m. 



I duly appreciate the position in which the government of the United 

 States places itself in the transfer of the question to this capital. Al- 

 though I see with regret that Mr. Gutierrez's last note, accompanied 

 by convincing proof, has failed to justify, in the judgment of the Chief 

 Magistrate of the State, the conduct of Yenezuela in the premises, 

 still I rejoice at the disposition which he evinces of hearing the envoy 

 extraordinary in this negotiation, before he shall definitively judge of 

 the value of the defense, and of the incidental charge of willful procras- 

 tination, which it is my duty, in the name of my government, to repel 

 with an irresistable power, derived from the official correspondence 

 itself, between Mr. Marcy and Mr. Eames, on this question, the merits 

 of which the cabinet at Caraccas could not put forth, because it was not 

 in possession of the whole of it. 



With the assurance that I shall be punctual at the appointment to- 

 morrow, I remain, with sentiments of most distinguished consideration, 

 your excellency's very respectful servant, 



M. De BRICENO. 



His Excellency General Lewis Cass, 



Secretary of State. 



Mr. Cass to Mr. Briceno. 



Department of State, 

 Washington, February 26, 1858. 

 Sir: I have had the honor to receive your note of the 24th instant, 

 and regret that I was unavoidably absent from the department at the 



