246 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



No. 20. 



Canadian Archives, Series B, Vol. 161, p. 18. 



NAIRNE TO HALDIMAND. 



Sir: — Montreal, 6th June, 1779. 



I had the honour of receiving Your Excellency's letter and orders in 

 regard to Jautard and Mesplet, which I put in execution on friday morning. 

 They made no resistance but submitted quietly and this morning I sent them 

 on board a Vessel for Sorrell, in charge of Lieut MacKinnon and a Guard of 

 a Corporal and four men. There is no Vessel here that goes directly to 

 Quebec, but I hope there may be one at Sorell, and have given Mr Mackenzie 

 instructions conform to those I had from Your Excellency. 



I have ordered the printing Types to be put up and so soon as that 

 can be done properly shall make an Inventory and deposit them in a safe 

 place till Your Excellency's further pleasure is known, for I have not yet 

 been able to find any person who can value them except Mesplet himself, 

 and it is very difficult to assort them properly. 



I don't find that the Prisoners have many Friends here, nor that the 

 steps taken in regard to them have given any great Alarm. I shall however 

 be attentive to what passes and will not fail to report to Your Excellency 

 everything I think worthy of your notice. 



All the papers belonging to the prisoners are put up in two separate 

 bundles and sent in charge of Lieut. Mackinnon. 



I have the honour to be Your Excellency's most obedient and most 

 humble servant. 



His Excellency General Haldimand. 



JOHN NAIRNE 



Major 



Endorsed— A. 1779. From Major Nairn at Montreal of 6th June Reed gth. 



No. 21. 



Canadian Archives, Series B, No. 54, p. 85. 



Extract letter of Haldimand to Germain, 



Quebec, 7th June 1779. 



The Turbulent & seditious Behaviour of a Cabal at Montreal, has also 

 laid me under the necessity of confining Two Frenchmen there, who names 

 Mesplet & Jaubard, the former a Printer sent here by Congress in 1774, to 

 Publish and Disperse their letters, the latter has been an attorney & is 

 an unprincipled Adventurer. So soon as their Papers have been examined 

 Your Lordship shall have a circumstantial Account of their affairs, & if 

 this does not in some measure check the Licentious Spirit that was begin- 

 ning to rise, I shall not hesitate to make more examples, I heartily lament 

 that those who misbehaved in 1775 and 1776 were not. severely punished, it 

 was easy then, but now difficult, nevertheless my Endeavours shall not be 

 wanting to promote the King's interests, serve the Public and secure the 

 Province. Objects which engross all my attention and which always have 

 been and ever shall be the sole aim of all my actions. 



