258 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



among others, Messieurs Loubet, Marrasse, Meyrant, Deshautelle, and Legay, 

 merchants at Montreal, have all assured me that Mr. Mesplet was con- 

 tinually surrounded by spies and enemies from whom it was altogether 

 impossible for him to escape, that besides, it is well known to the whole 

 town, that Mr. Mesplet has sold goods in the way of his trade, for Con- 

 tinental Currency, and that he even gave gold and silver in exchange for 

 paper money. 



Philadelphia, March 31st, 1785. 



ETIENNE FOURNIER. 

 Kiiladelphia, ss 



Personally appeared Etienne Fournier and made oath according to 

 law, that the above certificate contains the whole truth concerning the 

 matter therein mentioned and expressed. 



Sworn, the 31st March, 1785, 



Coram JOHN MILLER, L P. 



No. 41. 

 Papers of Continental Congress, p. 357. 



Philadelphia, April 1st, 1785. 



Dear Sir: — 



The bearer, Mr. Fleury Mesplet, is one of those unfortunate strangers 

 who depending upon the hasty promises of zealous whigs in 1776, went 

 to Canada as a printer (or agent) for the United States, was in con- 

 sequence of his exertions imprisoned three years and a half and finally 

 ruined. 



He has presented a memorial to Congress with an estimate of his 

 losses and wishes to have your friendly aid in support of his claim. The 

 ostensible situation I was in last year has exposed me to the attacks of 

 strangers who have claims on the Justice or generosity of Congress and 

 it is but seldom that I am so fortunate as to avoid a disagreable inter- 

 ference. The present case is one of those I cannot parry. You will there- 

 fore forgive me for introducing Mr. Mesplet to you with my request that 

 you will assist him in his application to Congress so far as it may appear 

 just and reasonable. 



I am with much friendship. Dr. Sir. 



Yours, 



THO. MIFFLIN. 



The Honorable Mr. Hardy, of Virginia, in Congress, New ^ork. 

 Favored by Mr. Mesplet. 



