AVES ISLAND, 423 



I have tlie honor to he, with great respect, 3^our most oheclient ser- 

 vant, 



H. S. SANFOED. 

 Hon. Lewis Cass, 



Secretary of State. 



Mr, Briceno to Mr. Cass. 



[Translation.] 



Legation Extraordinary of Venezuela to the United States, 



Washington, April 25, 1858. 



Excellent Sir : It has come to my notice that the government of the 

 United States has seen with dissatisfaction that without its previous 

 knowledge publication has been made of the memorial which I had the 

 honor to transmit to your excellency with my dispatch of the 17th 

 instant. 



Under this impression, imbued with the constant desires which ac- 

 tuate my government to preserve the strictest relations of friendship 

 with the government of the United States, and moved by sentiments 

 whose loftiness I trust your excellency will not do less than recognize, 

 I hasten to declare that it causes me pain that my mode of proceeding 

 can have given just cause of complaint to the government of your ex- 

 cellency, for there has not been on my part the slightest intention to 

 forget for a single instant the courteous demeanor or the respect which 

 two friendly governments owe to each other. 



With sentiments of distinguished consideration, I subscribe myself 

 your excellency's obedient servant, 



M. DE BRICENO. 



His Excellency General Cass, i&c. 



Mr. Cass to Mr. Briceno. 



Department of State, 

 Washington, April 27, 1858. 



Sir : I have had the honor to receive your communication of the 25th 

 instant, in which you express your regret that your conduct in publish- 

 ing your late memoir concerning the Aves negotiation without the pre- 

 vious knowledge of this department had given just cause of complaint 

 to the government of the United States, and your assurance that the 

 publication was made without the least intention of disregarding the 

 respect due from the representative of a friendly power to this govern- 

 ment. 



It is quite true that the publication of the memoir in question was 

 observed by the President with great surprise, but he is relieved from 

 the necessity of expressing any further opinion upon that proceeding 

 by the frank explanation and assurance which are contained in your 

 note. 



