AYES ISLAND. 461 



Mr. Applefon to Mr, Sanford. 



Department of State, 

 Wasliington, March 4, 1859. 

 Sir : Herewith I commnnicate to you as the attorney and representa- 

 tive of the claimants^ a copy of a dispatch dated the 8th ultimo, and 

 of its inclosures just received from our minister in Venezuela. 



These papers inform the department of the final settlement of the 

 claims growing out of the eviction from the Aves Island, by the armed 

 forces of Venezuela, of the agents and employes of Messrs. Philo S. 

 Shelton, Sampson & Tappan, and Lang & Delano, in 1854. Although 

 there is a material abatement by the terms of the convention from the 

 sum last named by this department to Mr. Turpin, as insisted on by 

 the claimants, it i-i inferred from his dispatch that the arrangement 

 will be satisfactory, since it appears to be in general conformity with 

 certain powers and concessions granted by you for the purpose of facili- 

 tating the more speedy adjustment of the claims. 

 I am, sir, &c., 



JOHN APPLETON, 

 Assistant Secretary. 

 H. S. Sanford, Esq., 



Brevoort House, New York. 



3Ir. Sanford to Mr. Ajjpleton. 



Derby, Connecticut, April 8, 1859. 



Sir: Having received from you by your letter of 4th ultimo an 

 official notification " of the final settlement of the claims growing out 

 of the eviction from Aves Island, by the armed forces of Venezuela, of 

 the agents and employes of Messrs. Philo S. Shelton, and Sampson & 

 Tappan, and of Lang & Delano, in 185d," by the conclusion of a con- 

 vention for the payment of |130,000 in yearly installments, payable 

 from one to five years, it is meet that I should address you this letter 

 in reply thereto. 



And, in the first place, your inference is correct that Mr. Turpin 

 acquiesced in this large abatement of the minimum sum, mentioned in 

 the instructions of the dejDartment to him, with my assent as attorney 

 for the claimants. I was induced to yield this assent, not only because 

 I was willing to make a sacrifice of a portion of our just demands to 

 avoid further trouble to my own government, but also because these 

 claims had been in no little degree embarrassed and prejudiced by the 

 action, prior to 1858, of the then American minister at Caraccas, 

 which I was apprehensive would occasion further procrastination and 

 difficulty if our^iill rightful demands were insisted upon. 



The spoliation and eviction occurred in December, 1854. The 



