MS AVES ISLAND. 



Co., and Charles H. Lang, for Lang & Delano, the filibusters were 

 allowed not only to complete the loading of the three vessels with the 

 guano, but to continue the further exportation thereof until the arrival 

 of the legitimate contractors of the Venezuelan government, on the 

 following conditions, viz : first, that the latter should approve thereof ; 

 second, that the two Boston agents should furnish certain supplies 

 required by the Venezuelan garrison ; and third, that they should place 

 \the whole of their armaments under the orders of the authority of 

 Venezula, and under its flag ; all which was accordingly done to the 

 satisfaction of all the parties, except the government at Caraccas, 

 which disavowed the transaction. 



1854, December 21. — The government of Venezuela at Caraccas, 

 makes a concession for fifteen years to Mr. Wallace, a citizen of the 

 United States, of all the guano on Isla de Aves, and of the other 

 islands of the republic, in consideration of certain cash payments 

 which the contractor obligated himself to make by means of drafts 

 which he drew in favor of the government. 



1854, December ZQ. — By order of the agent of the Venezuelan gov- 

 ernment the filibusters peaceably left Isla de Aves, laden with all the 

 guano they had shipped, without avowing the least intention of mak- 

 ing the international claim which they afterwards interposed. 



1855, January 15. — Shelton and associates make application to the 

 government of the United States, soliciting its intervention to be in- 

 demnified by Venezuela not only for the losses they alleged to have 

 suffered by reason of their expulsion^ but likewise for the ulterior 

 profits they expected to realize from the . further exportation of the 

 guano. 



1855, 3Iarch. — Mr. Eames, minister resident of the United States 

 in Caraccas, obtains privately the copy of a document filed in the office 

 of the secretary of state of Venezuela, in which the agents of Shelton 

 and his associates acknowledged, when on the island, the sovereignty 

 of Venezuela over the same. Mr. Eames^ who was not aware of the 

 existence of such a document, brings it to the knowledge of his gov- 

 ernment, and thereby retards the formal presentation of the claim 

 until the time hereinafter mentioned. 



1855, April 30. — Mr. Wallace assigns his contract to a mercantile 

 firm composed of American citizens, under the title of the " Gruano 

 Company of Philadelphia," which obtained an act of incorporation 

 from the legislature of Pennsylvania of the above date. 



1855, May 22. — The drafts having been protested for non-accept- 

 ance, the Wallace contract was annulled by the government of Vene- 

 zuela. 



1855, Juoie and August. — In these months Shelton & Co. take the 

 declarations of their agents, and other persons, with the object of sus- 

 taining their projected reclamation on account of their having been 

 expelled from Isla de Aves. 



1855, Jidy 28. — Decree of the president of Venezuela opening to 

 foreign commerce the exportation of guano from Isla de Aves, and the 

 other islands of the republic. 



1855, August. — In this month the American filibusters returned to 

 export guano clandestinely from the desert islands on the coast of 



