AVES ISLAND. 453 



assent; it being clearly understood tliat Shelton & Co. do not relin- 

 quish their claim to the isle, nor compromise it in any way, but insist 

 upon their right to be restored to their previous possession, or to be 

 indemnified by Venezuela in default of such restoration. 



For the event, however, of a sum to be agreed by the government 

 of Venezuela to Shelton & Co., for their relinquishment of all rights 

 and title of the claimants to the isle, I have also to request that Mr. 

 Turpin be instructed to make formal relinquishment of the same to 

 Venezuela. 



I have the honor to be, very respectfuUv, your obedient servant^ 



H. S. SANFORD. 



Hon. Lewis Cass, 



Secretary of State. * 



3Ir. Cass to Mr. Turpin. 



No. 12.] ' Department op State, 



Washington, JDecemher 10, 1858. 



Sir: Inclosed herewith you will receive a copy of a communication 

 dated December 9, 1858, from Mr. H. S. Sanford, the agent of Messrs. 

 Shelton & Co., and Messrs. Lang & Delano, on the subject of the 

 Aves claim . It appears from this communication that there is reason 

 to believe that the Venezuelan government is disposed to make a 

 prompt and final adjustment of this claim, provided the parties inter- 

 ested will consent to such an adjustment upon the terms indicated in 

 Mr. Sanford's letter. Of course this government has no desire to 

 intervene against any settlement which may be satisfactory to the 

 claimants, and not inconsistent with the rights and honor of the United 

 States. Inasmuch as Venezuela is understood to have acknowledged 

 the wrong which it committed in the eviction of our citizens from the 

 island, and its consequent liability to make reparation, there is no 

 good reason why the United States should not permit the parties ag- 

 grieved to accept any terms of adjustment which may be satisfactory 

 to them. It is quite time, moreover^ that the controversy was settled, 

 and if it can be adjusted peaceably and speedily, this should be a 

 source of gratification to the governments and people of both coun- 

 tries. 



You will repair to Valencia immediately upon the receipt of this 

 dispatch, and place yourself in communication with the government 

 there on this subject. If you find that an adjustment is practicably 

 upon terms satisfactory to the claimants, you will lose no time in 

 bringing it to a conclusion, without awaiting any further instructions 

 from the department. When a compromise is to be made, there need 

 be no question, of course concerning proofs and details ; but you will 

 not permit the idea to be entertained by Venezuela that the disposition 

 of the claimants to compromise their claims grows out of any doubt, 

 either on their part or on that of their government, of its entire valid- 

 ity or of their perfect ability to maintain it. They are weary, how- 

 ever, with delay, and prefer to abate a portion of their rights rather 



