216 ROY-\L SOCIETY OF CANADA 



tlie 2Tth of May, favouring the granting of " $4 "3 6,45-90 to Mr. Fleurv 

 !Mesplet on account of expenses attending the transporting of himself, 

 family and printing utensils from Philadelphia to ^Montreal."^ This 

 appears to have been for the bare expenses of the journey to ^Montreal, 

 \nthout taking into account the loss by imjirisonment or otherwise; 

 and it was far from satisfying him, for in June he presented another 

 memorial - setting forth the utter inadequacy of the sum voted to cover 

 liis losses. He claimed that it was insufficient to cover his outlay in 

 securing it, which included expenditure for the services of an attorney, 

 the cost of his trip to, and three months' sojourn in Philadelphia. 

 This was his last appeal to the United Slates. He iiad wasted time 

 and money without any practical result, and from henceforth became 

 a good and loyal Canadian. 



The same year Joseph Marie Desaulels finding it impossible to 

 collect his claim against Mesplet — he had secured it by notarial bond 

 the previous year ^ — took lOut an action against him in the Court of 

 Common Pleiis, and on the 22nd of July was granted a judgment for 

 $1,481."* This case was taken out against both Mesplet and Berger 

 but the latter through his attorney, P. ^lézière. proved that he was 

 not liable for the debt, while Mesplet acknoAvledged the debt by confess- 

 ing judgment. It may be worth while to note that the claimant was 

 represented by Thomas Walker, celebrated in connection for his sym- 

 pathy with the continental army, and for having entertained Franklin 

 when he visited Montreal. Mesplet who, at that time, owed over 

 $5,000,^ tried to arrange a compromise. He only asked for an extension 

 of time, offering his presses and other plant as security.® But Desau- 

 tels, noting that he was hopelessly insolvent, took out an execution 

 and Mesplet's effects were disposed tof by a bailiff's sale in October." 

 The whole sale realized a little over $600, not half the indebtedness 

 to Desautels alone, who bought in the two presses and type for $290, 

 besides books and sundry other articles aggregating altogether to $4-13, 

 more than two-thirds of the whole. It would appear by the final 

 inventory that Desautels bought the presses for Edward William Gray. 

 From this time out Mesplet never owned his presses, although after- 

 wards he, from time to time, bought fresh supplies of t}-pe. Gray, 

 althouerh, no doubt, he bought the plant at a bargain, could not find 



^ See appendix D No. 31. 



* See appendix D No. 43. 



* See appendix F No. 56. 



* Ihid G No. 78. 

 ^ Hid F No. 60. 

 'Ihid F No. 5S. 



' See appendix F No. 61. 



