[m'lachlan] FLEURY MESPLET, FIRST PRINTER AT MONTREAL 25B 



epoch of the 3rd of June 1779, when I was again taken and confined in 

 prison at Quebec on the supposition that I had printed and rendered public 

 the Manifesto of the Count d'Estaing- and notwithstanding my innocence my 

 friends and my rig'nt, I suffered a detention of three and half years con- 

 secutively during which I suffered such miseries as humanity forbide to cite. 



I supported my pain with firmness and flattering myself with the hopes 

 of seeing at last that province united to the thirteen States, when at the 

 return of the peace General Haldimand, my oppressor, gave me my liberty 

 which was then in some degree insupportable to me by the ruin of my 

 establishment, but w'nat grieved me most was to see the province of Canada 

 remain to the power of Great Britaiji. In that moment overloaded with 

 debts, necessitated by the wants of my wife without help, and moreover 

 obliged to render accounts to a partner (with whom I have settled and am 

 indebted to him according to agreement sixteen hundred and sixty-seven 

 dollars) I decided to write to the Honorable Mr. Enkok, the 4th August, 1783, 

 and likewise to Mr. Tompson to request of these gentlemen to take my situa- 

 tion into consideration, I sent them a petition like the one I had t'ne honour 

 to present since my arrival here. I should have certainly prefered to come 

 myself in person before the respectable Congrss had my faculties permitted 

 me to do it. 



I waited with great impatience for an answer but in vain; the 4th of 

 April, 1784, I take the liberty to write a second letter to the Honorable Mr. 

 Henkok who undoubtedly could not give me any answer. 



In fin I wrote another letter to the Honorable Mr. Meflenne then 

 President of Congress, the 31st of March, 1784, and am still deprived of any 

 answer from eitxier of the gentlemen. 



In the month of November last I charged a friend to see the Honorable 

 President of Congress to recall to his Memory the request I made to him 

 (being still deprived myself of means of transporting me there in person) he 

 was kind enough to tell him that he knew perfectly well all my affair that 

 he had received my petition and that he would wit'n pleasure interest him- 

 self to see me righted. But that it was absolutely requisite that I should 

 come in person; my friend observed him the impossibility of me making 

 such expenses being entirely destituted of means — he desired my friend to 

 engage me to make a last effort and come and told him that he had not 

 the least doubt of the satisfaction I was to expect from the equity of the 

 respectable Congress. In consequence that same friend has been good 

 enough to furnish me with a sufficiency to enable me to make this voyage, 

 and I am now gentlemen expecting of your honours the Justice due to a 

 zealous servant of Tour Respectable Body. 



Your Honours have demanded of me an account of my expenses and 

 a near computation of the damages I sustained. 



In obedience to your command Gentlemen I have hereunto annexed an 

 exact account of my expense only and with regard to the hopes I shall 

 never permit myself to taxe your Honours, I 'nave never doubted of our 

 justice and shall confide to it. The triumph of America over the tiranny 

 of Great Britain is all my satisfaction I desire. I shall esteem myself too 

 happy if my services can still be agréable to Tour Honours and shall be 

 eternally devoted to your commands. 



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