458 AVES ISLAND. 



puMication made in the United States on tlie subject by Seiior Briceno, 

 then minister plenipotentiary of Venezuela near the government of the 

 United States. This had given so very decided a bias to the public 

 mind here, that it was not without considerable difficulty that the ap- 

 probation of the national convention was obtained, and, at one period 

 of the discussion, I had very serious apprehensions of being able to 

 obtain it, I remained in Valencia, however, until it was finally done, 

 and I trust that this question, by the present agreement, has been 

 settled to the satisfaction of the government of the United States and 

 of the claimants. Of this I feel quite confident, that the very highest 

 amount and the very best te^'ms for the claimants compatible with the 

 amicable relations of the two governments have been obtained. 



Since writing the above I have received a note, under date of 4th 

 instant, from honorable Minister of Foreign Eolations, recapitulating 

 the conditions^ above alluded to, of the approval of the Aves Island 

 agreement and desiring the expression of my consent thereto in 

 writing, which note, in cojDy and translation, I herewith transmit, 

 together with my reply of this date to the same. 



With the highest respect and consideration, I have the honor to be 

 your obedient servant, 



E, A, TURPIN. 



Hon, Lewis Cass, 



Secretary of State. 



List of accompanying inclosures. 



No. 1, — Aves Island agreement, 



No. 2, — Sanojo's note, February 4, and translation. 



No. 3, — My reply to same, date February 8. 



The undersigned^ Edward A. Turpin, minister resident of the United 

 States of America, and Luis Sanojo, secretary of state of the depart- 

 ment of foreign relations of the government of Venezuela, being duly 

 authorized to form an equitable agreement for the satisfaction of the 

 damages and losses sustained by Philo S. Shelton, Sampson & Tap- 

 pan, and Lang & Delano, in consequence of the eviction of their 

 agents and employes from the Aves Island, by the forces of Venezu- 

 ela, have agreed upon the following articles : 



Article 1 . The government of Venezuela obliges itself to pay to the 

 government of the United States, or to its minister resident in Venez- 

 uela, the gross sum of one hundred and thirty thousand dollars, United 

 States currency, ($130,000,) of which said sum one hundred and five 

 thousand dollars ($105,000) are in liquidation of the claims of Shelton, 

 Sampson & Tappan, and are to be distributed among themselves^ and 

 the residue, that is to say, twenty-five thousand dollars, ($25,000^.) is 

 in liquidation of the claim of Lang & Delano, 



