I think, that there are no undesired ^P and and it is Fliesstext. I added no changes to the translation result.
Later I added the Italian documentary parts of Franco in double quotation style
Later I removed the double quotation to normal quote and changed the color of the Italian text to red. I hope, that this helps to develop some overview in the representation.
.................
Florence 1766 - Domenico Aldini under investigation
Franco Pratesi
1. Introduction
An introduction for this study requires few words. The documents examined are preserved in the State Archives of Florence, and in exactly the same fund and in the same archival unit already used for a previous study (Footnote 1): in the Inventory N/83 of the Miscellanea di Finanze fund A in the State Archives of Florence reads: 284 Playing Cards. Various papers concerning stamp duty - 1766-86. (Footnote 2)
On the other hand, the character in question has been encountered in several previous studies on playing cards in Tuscany (Footnote 3) because he was for decades the contractor and then the main minister for stamp duty on playing cards. His signature on a pre-established card in the deck was a fundamental requirement for those cards to be legally sold and used.
At the origin of the investigation was an anonymous letter, preserved among the documents that contain what was written about it by Aldini himself and his hierarchical superior, councilor Giuseppe Gavard. Given the absolute importance of the character for the history of playing cards in Tuscany in the second half of the eighteenth century, I consider it useful to transcribe a large part of these documents, also because they provide us with detailed information on the entire administration.
2. The anonymous letter
The letter that gives rise to the practice is written front and back on a white sheet in a handwriting and with a vocabulary that is not of a professional level, but not of an illiterate one either.
Accioché l’Altezza Vostra Reale, venga in cognizione, di più, e diversi disordini seguiti nell’Amministrazione G.ale; Bisognerebbe, che si degniasse Fare Rendere conto al Aldini Ministro delle Carte da Gioco,
e Carta Bollata, Primieramente è interessato con li Cartaj, di due per cento, sopra le Carte, che prende per
l’Amministraz.e G.ale Al pregiudizio di V: A: R:; Secondo si mette a Entrata ogni quartale delle partite
grosse al Fine perché paghino meno del loro Bollato, e anche anticipatamente, prima, che sieno Bollate, e
consegniate al Respettivo magazzino; Terzo tiene i Registri sopra de quali, e Fondato la Zienda delle Carte
é Carta Bollata, che senza contare gli Errori, che ci possono essere, sono anche pieni d’Errori, e Sgorbi, e
Grattature, per far dire alla Scrittura quel che vuole; Quarto fà anche un Commercio Continuovo, e illecito
di Carte, come di Vendere, far vendere, e barattare delle Carte difettose con delle buone, che si faceva dare
dal Magazzino, che non si puol fare senza pregiudizio di V:A: R:, si perché in quella maniera, e Giudice, e
parte; Quinto à ancora la Carta Bollata pare male Amministrata, v’è Certi interessi, che il medesimo riceve
per Regali, che Fanno, che la Carta non viene mai Simili a Campioni, che non serve, che il magazziniere
Francesco Fond strepiti, si va innanzi così, e questo Fà che V: A: R: mal servito, e il Pubblico mal Contento. V: A: R: saprà ancora, che aveva 282 Lire di sopra più provvisione per tenere un ajuto, che né à avuti
diversi, e non pagava nessuno, e frà questi un tal Cammillo Targioni essendo stato per lo spazio d’Anni tre
con lusingarlo d’un impiego al Servizio di V: A: R:, che poi si trovo senza paga, e senza Impiego. Che se
l’A: V: R: si farà bene informare dai Computisti, e Ministri della d.a Amministrazione dai Cartai, e a sindaci
fare rivedere i suoi Libri, che si trovera anche qualche cosa di più.
In order for Your Royal Highness to become aware of the various disorders that followed in the General Administration; It would be necessary to deign to make the Minister of Playing Cards and Stamped Paper accountable to Aldini, who is primarily concerned with the Cards, of two percent, above the Cards, which he takes for the General Administration to the detriment of V: A: R:; Secondly, every quintal of large consignments is entered at the end so that they pay less than their stamped amount, and also in advance, before they are stamped and delivered to the respective warehouse; Terzo keeps the registers above which, and founded the company of stamped paper, which, without counting the errors that may exist, are also full of errors, and gouges, and scratches, to make the Scripture say what it wants. ; Fourth, there is also a Continuous and illicit Trade in Cards, such as selling, having sold, and exchanging defective Cards for good ones, which was supplied by the Warehouse, which cannot be done without prejudice to V:A:R: , yes, because in that way, both Judge and party; Fifth, the stamped paper also appears to be badly administered, v�� Certain interests, which the same receives for gifts, which cause, that the paper is never Similar to Samples, which is of no use, that the warehouseman Francesco Fond makes an outcry, we move forward so, and this is why V: A: R: is poorly served, and the public is poorly satisfied. V: A: R: you will also know that he had 282 Lire above plus provision to keep an assistant, which he had no other, and he did not pay anyone, and among these a certain Cammillo Targioni had been for the space of Three years of flattering him with a job in the V: A: R: Service, which then found him without pay, and without employment. That if the A: V: R: it will be good to inform the Accountants, and Administration Ministers from the Papermakers, and to have the mayors review his books, that something more will also be found.
3. The "viglietto" in Gavard
The anonymous letter reaches the Grand Duke who starts the checks with the following "viglietto" sent by the councilor Angelo Tavanti to Giuseppe Gavard, the hierarchical superior of Aldini.
Ill.mo Sig.re Pr.re Col.mo
Per ordine di S.A.R. rimetto a VS.Ill.ma la qui annessa informazione anonima a fine che si compiaccia
di fare quei passi, che crederà opportuni per venire in chiaro se sussista quello che viene rappresentato, e di
poi riferisca con dire il suo sentimento.
E con perfetto ossequio mi confermo. Di VS.Ill.ma Dev.mo ed obbl.mo serv.re Angelo Tavanti
Firenze 12 Giugno 1776
Dear Mr. Pr.King Col.mo
By order of HRH I am sending the attached anonymous information to Your Excellency so that you may be pleased to take the steps you deem appropriate to clarify whether what is represented exists, and then report and express your feelings. .
And with perfect respect I confirm myself. Yours sincerely and obligatory servant, King Angelo Tavanti
Florence 12 June 1776
The tone of the request is rather abrupt, beyond the usual expressions of respect. The date of the anonymous complaint is not known, but the investigation begins here, mid-June. The continuation is simple: Gavard asks for a defense from the accusations directly from Aldini, who writes several pages with passion; then we have the "sentiment" of Gavard who exposes what has come to light, and finally the matter will be closed with another "Viglietto" from the Grand Duke.
4. Aldini's defense
Aldini's defense is written on about ten foolscap pages, usually using only the right half. Only on the first page are both columns used, on the left to list the two questions in full (in a different spelling) and on the right for the answers. Aldini's writing is read with some difficulty and the content of his answers does not appear well structured. Despite this, I decided to also transcribe these Answers in full because they include useful information for the detailed reconstruction of the control over playing cards in Tuscany in that period. It should be noted that the two questions posed concern only some of the negative aspects highlighted by the anonymous letter; there were six and therefore it can be assumed that the other four had already been clarified by the investigation started by Gavard.
Quesiti
P.mo: Si domanda Sotto qual titolo, et in virtù di chè il Sig.re Dom.co Aldini ha esatto dai Cartai un
tanto per cento sopra il valore, ò il quantitativo delle Carte da Essi vendute all’App.to, e successivamente
all’Amminist.e generale.
2.do: Con qual Facoltà il med:o Sig:re Aldini hà fatto in proprio, Negozio, ò Smercio di Carte da giuoco
Separatamente, et indipendentemente dalla vendita a cui Egli Soprintende per Servizio, et Interesse prima
dell’App.to et successivamente della Regia Amminist:e generale.
Risposte
Perche Dom.co Aldini possa ingenuam.e rispondere sopra i due Quesiti, che gli vengono fatti in carta
dall’Ill.mo Sig.re Cons.re Gavard, conviene premettere alcune notizie, e sono le appresso.
Dopo che l’Aldini fù fissato App.re del Bollo delle Carte da Gioco, che poi all’insinuazioni di Chi
rappresentava allora nel 1751 l’App.re Gen.le; cedé ad’esso App.re Gen.le; pensò frattanto al miglior regolamento di e.o App.to delle Carte; e fù determinato, che conveniva far vendere le Carte in tutti i luoghi dello
Stato per conto dell’App.to.
Questo regolamento non poteva eseguirsi senza che l’Aldini comprasse le Carte dai Cartai, onde furono
fissati i prezzi, che si convennero con i med.i Cartai con avere l’Aldini procurato la maggiore possibile
facilità in d.i prezzi.
E qui l’Aldini sfida i Cartai, e chiunque a dire, se fù ne anche sognata, ò ideata una mezza sillaba di
Manupolio, gratificazione, interesse Personale, ò altro.
Fosse il d.o Regolamento, ò fosse altra la causa, lo Smercio crebbe talm.e delle carte, che i Cartai non
potevano quasi supplire, a Segno tale che convenne far venire una quantità di Carte di Bologna.
Pensava intanto l’Aldini di erigere una Fabbrica di Carte in proprio per interesse dell’App.Gen.le; giacche non repugna, e si può essere Appaltatore, e Cartaio, come per lunghis.mo tratto di tempo è stato il
Molinelli; e furono prese diverse notizie per eseguire l’Idea.
Ciò saputosi dai Cartai, che prevedevano poter’essere la loro rovina, fecero molte, e molte pratiche con
l’Aldini per distorlo dal mettere in piede la d.a Fabbrica. Si raccomandorno, fecero promesse; ed’anco qui
l’Aldini sfida chiunque, se potrà dirsi, che si lasciasse indurre a cosa alcuna, ò se fù fatta mezza parola di
proprio interesse.
Intanto la Fabbrica dell’Aldini non andò più avanti per varie ragioni, fra le quali la principale fù quella,
che mancando Lavoranti capaci, e non giovando farli venire di fuori, conveniva Sedurre quelli dei nostri
Cartai, ciocche l’Aldini non volle fare per essere contrario a tutte le regole di Religione, e di onoratezza,
giacche in questo Caso sarebbe Egli stato la causa di d.a rovina de’ Cartai.
3
Allora fù che l’Aldini stette sempre addosso per così dire ai Cartai per farli lavorare, e gli obbligò a
crescere Lavoranti con infinito loro Guadagno, e vantaggio, che ridondava ancora per conseguenza in vantaggio dell’App.to.
Troppo ci vorrebbe, se l’Aldini dovesse ripetere tutte le proteste di gratitudine, che allora, e sempre gli
fecero, e gli hanno fatto i Cartai per questo Benefizio ed’infatti, come poteva impedirsi l’Aldini a non
erigere una Fabbrica di Carte, anche in proprio, quando questa non solo non avrebbe pregiudicato, ma anzi
avrebbe molti.mo giovato all’Interesse dell’App.to; e avrebbe, se poteva, e voleva eseguirsi portato sicuri,
e considerabili profitti all’Aldini, (l’erigesse in Proprio, ò per il Negozio,) che avrebbe Smerciate tutte le
Carte di questa Fabbrica, e poche, ò punte di quelle de Cartai.
Fin quì torna l’Aldini ripeterlo con Coraggio, e pro veritate, nulla, e poi nulla con Veduta del minimo
interesse dell’Aldini.
Dopo un lasso lungo di tempo, e certam.te di più d’un’anno, ò due, e forse più, perche l’Aldini non ne
ha memoria, trattandosi di cose di Venticinque anni sono, Egli che non solo consumava in proprio, e in
proprio regalava a Parenti, Amici molte Carte, perche tutti lo riguardavano allora, e sempre come App.re,
disse alla fine ai Cartai, che avrebbe gradito qualche recognizione di Carte per suo Consumo.
Il Rossi dunque diede, ed’accordò di Sua propria, mera, e libera volontà questa recognizione, che ora è
stata più, ora è stata meno, che non hà avuto alcun Patto fissato, che ragguagliavasi all’incirca non al due
per cento sopra le Carte vendute in genere, ma a una dozzina in circa di Carte, che l’Aldini avesse comprato
sulla sola valuta per altro delle Carte Senza bollo, e questa recognizione l’Aldini l’hà sempre avuta in Carte.
Il Molinelli poi non credè di dovere accordare quanto il Rossi, e tanto è vero, che l’Aldini non hà mai
preteso ciò per Patto, che Si contentava, e Si è contentato di ciò che di buon animo gli dava, e che sarà
consistito all’incirca a una Dozzina, ò poco più di Carte l’anno; e ciò non ostante il Molinelli hà venduto
Sempre più Carte del Rossi all’App.to, e all’Aldini in proprio.
Qual delitto, qual Mancanza, qual male dunque hà fatto l’Aldini? Egli certam.e non crede di avere di
che rimproverarsi. I Prezzi erano fissati da molto tempo, erano fissati più strettam.e; che fosse stato possibile, e per condurre i Cartai ad’accordare le Carte ai prezzi convenuti ci volle della fatica non poca, e un
lungo lunghiss.mo Trattato, e Sforzo.
Se poi i Cartai in vista dei Vantaggi come sopra, riportati dall’Aldini hanno voluto liberam.te; e di loro
propria volontà, e Soddisfazione, come lo dimostra la quiescenza di circa Venticinque anni, dare del proprio
questa tenue riconoscenza all’Aldini, che non l’ha mai pretesa per Patto, che non hà mai avuto in Vista,
prima, ne dopo il Trattato della Compra delle Carte, ò dei prezzi, che furon convenuti, Egli certamente non
hà creduto di avere mancato al proprio dovere.
E che ciò sia vero appena da amico stragiudiziale la sera del dì 14 Agosto Stante e a ore 6¼ seppe
l’Aldini, che l’Ill.mo Sig.re Cons.re Gavard faceva delle ricerche in questa materia, che Egli subito con
franchezza, e tranquillità sali da Sua Sig.ia Ill.ma; e di proprio moto con tutta l’ingenuità confessò il Fatto,
e dichiarò quanto Sopra e che Egli non hà mai creduto di fare cosa indebita.
Infatti se l’Aldini avesse preteso questa recognizione de jure, l’avrebbe pretesa anche dal Tognacci, dal
quale ciò non ostante hà comprato le Carte a proporzione, ed’a prezzo inferiore degli altri Cartai in Benefizio ora dell’Amm.ne Gen.le; senza che neppure per ombra sia caduto in mente questa cosa.
In oltre vi è da aggiungere, che sono almeno due anni, che l’Aldini non hà avuto cosa alcuna, perche
avendo potuto accorgersi, che i Cartai dopo la legge dei Giochi, per la quale è assai minorato il loro Profitto,
mostravano poca Soddisfazione di ciò, pagò, ed’hà pagato tutte le Carte prese in proprio, ed’al Tanini m.o
del Rossi, che disse di darli alcune Carte secondo il Solito, rispose nò, non le voglio, e in caso vi sarà sempre
tempo.
Il Rossi poi si dole, che l’Aldini hà preso meno Carte da Lui, che dal Molinelli. Se l’Aldini avesse avuto
in mira il proprio tenui.mo interesse, avrebbe preferito il Rossi; Ma la vera causa di ciò è stata sempre la
mancanza delle Carte, che hà avute il Rossi nella sua Fabbrica, perche l’Aldini non hà mai preferito alcuno,
quando hanno avuto Carte, in vista di Cosa alcuna.
Ecco, Ill.mo Sig.re, risposto ingenuamente al Primo Articolo delle Sue Domande; E venendo al Secondo.
Convien premettere, che la Vendita delle Carte non è una Privativa, ne un’annesso dell’App.to, che si
può eseguire da Chiunque, che quanti più sono i Venditori, più è il Vantaggio dell’App.to, che l’App.re
Gen.le in prima, e poi l’Amm.ne Gen.le non hà mai tenuto questa Vendita nella Città di Firenze, perche si
era certi, che i Cartai, e molti altri Venditori a tutte l’ore vendevano Carte, e che in tanto si volle dal d.o
App.re Gen.le; e poi si è seguitato dall’Amm.ne Gen.le questa vendita nei Posti Foranei, benche con scapito,
perche parve e pare, che possa contribuire allo smercio delle Carte.
L’Aldini dunque, che non hà mai fatto il pubblico Venditore di Carte; ma che hà servito Amici, Ministri,
Soggetti di distinzione, inclusive a tutti gli a.ri g.li; consegnando le Carte al prezzo di Crazie tredici le basse,
e di Crazie Venti le Minchiate; E queste Carte lee hà sempre comprate dai Fabbricatori e pagate al prezzo
legale, come costa dai Conti, e ricevute.
Molti hanno comprato le Carte dall’Aldini, perche le pagavano meno, e perche essere qui riposate credevano trovarle migliori: Cosa in sostanza forse non vera.
4
Questa vendita di Carte non solo non è pregiudiciale, ma giova infinitam.ee; perche ogni volta, che si
vende un mazzo di Carte entra in Cassa un Paolo; E questo deve essere l’oggetto principale di chi amministra questo Appalto, e in conseguenza ad esso dell’Amministra.e G.le.
Questa vendita quieta l’Aldini l’hà fatta fino dal Momento, che Egli prese l’Appalto; E tanto è vero, che
non avrebbe potuto pensare, giammai, che in ciò vi sia ombra di male, che Egli hà servito amici, Ministri,
App.ri Geen.li, senza riguardo, ò cautela, perche nulla repugnava, ò repugnar poteva al minimo disinteresse
della Casa, ò alla più esatta delicatezza del ministero, che anzi influiva, ed’influisce al Vantaggio della
Casa, non pregiudica, e non hà mai potuto pregiudicare ad’alcuno, e nemmeno ai Cartai, i quali in Sostanza
hanno sempre venduto le loro Carte.
Anzi pare all’Aldini, se non lo tradisse la Memoria, che in qualche luogo per stabilirvi la Vendita hà
mandato per un dato tempo le Carte, che hà fatto pagarsi a Contanti.
La Vendita delle Carte non è un’annesso della Conduzione dell’Appalto, ma è un Traffico particolare,
che si fa con discapito di spesa e col solo oggetto di vendere molte Carte, e che si può tralasciare forse
anche con profitto nelle presenti circostanze.
Che ciò sia vero a Livorno fù tralasciata la Vendita per conto dell’App.to perche si era certi, che vi
erano molti Venditori. Fù poi riaperta la d.a Vendita al tempo dell’Amm.ne Ge.e per essere più certi, che a
tutte l’ore vi si vendano le Carte; ma in sostanza per la parte della Vendita vi è detto Scapito sicuro.
Ecco con tutta ingenuità la dovuta risposta ai due quesiti fatti in Carta dall’Ill.mo Sig.r Cons.re Gavard
a Dom.co Aldini e che in Sostanza è l’istesso datoli in voce spontaneam.e prima di avere ricevuti d.i Quesiti
in Carta; col maggior ossequio hò l’onore di dirmi
Di VS.Ill.ma Dev.mo Obb.mo Ser. Dom.co Aldini
Firenze 17 Agosto 1776
.Questions
P.mo: You wonder under what title, and by virtue of the fact that Mr. Dom.co Aldini has exacted from the Cardmakers such a percent above the value, is the quantity of the Cards sold by them to the App.to , and subsequently to the General Administration.
2.do: With what faculty did the doctor Mr. Aldini run his own business, sale of playing cards separately, and independently of the sale which he supervises for service, and interest before the application. to and subsequently of the General Regia Administ:e.
Answers
In order for Dom.co Aldini to be able to naively respond to the two questions posed to him on paper by the Most Respected Mr. Counselor Gavard, it is best to introduce some information, and they are the following.
After Aldini was appointed App.Re of the Playing Card Stamp, who then at Chi's insinuations represented the App.re Gen.le in 1751; handed over to the App. King General; in the meantime he thought about the best regulation of the Charter Department; It was determined that it was convenient to have the papers sold in all places of the State on behalf of the App.to.
This regulation could not be carried out without Aldini purchasing the Cards from the Cardmakers, whereby the prices were fixed, which were agreed with the average Cardmakers after Aldini had procured the greatest possible ease in prices.
And here Aldini challenges the Cartai, and anyone who says, if he even dreamed of it, a half syllable of Manupolio, gratification, Personal interest, is something else.
Whether it was the Regulation or the cause, the sale of papers increased so much that the cardmakers could hardly replace it, so much so that it was necessary to send in a quantity of papers from Bologna.
In the meantime, Aldini was thinking of building his own Card Factory in the interest of the General App. jackets are not repugnant, and one can be a Contractor and Papermaker, as Molinelli was for a very long stretch of time; and several ideas were taken to execute the Idea.
Having learned this from the Papermakers, who foreseen it could be their ruin, they made many, many negotiations with Aldini to divert him from setting up the Fabbrica. They recommended each other, made promises; and even here Aldini challenges anyone, if it can be said that he would allow himself to be induced into anything, if half a word of his own interest was said.
Meanwhile, Aldini's factory no longer progressed for various reasons, among which the main one is that, since there were no capable workers, and it was not useful to have them come from outside, it was better to seduce those of our paper makers, since Aldini did not he wanted to do so as to be contrary to all the rules of religion and honour, since in this case he would have been the cause of the ruin of the paper makers.
So it was that Aldini was always on top, so to speak, of the Papermakers to make them work, and forced them to grow Workers with their infinite profit and advantage, which consequently still redounded to the advantage of the App.to.
It would take too much if Aldini were to repeat all the protests of gratitude that the paper makers then and always made to him for this benefit and in fact, how could Aldini stop himself from building a paper factory? , even on its own, when this would not only not have jeopardized, but rather would have greatly benefited the interests of the App. and if he could and wanted to carry it out he would have brought certain and considerable profits to Aldini, (if he built it himself, for the Shop,) who would have sold all the Papers of this Factory, and a few of those of Paper makers.
Up to this point Aldini repeats it with Courage, and pro veritate, nothing, and then nothing with Aldini's View of the least interest.
After a long period of time, and certainly more than a year, or two, and perhaps more, because Aldini has no memory of it, since these were things of twenty-five years ago, he who not only consumed on his own, and on his own he gave many Papers to Relatives, Friends, because everyone was concerned about him then, and always as App.king, he finally told the Cardmakers, that he would have appreciated some recognition of Papers for his own consumption.
Rossi therefore gave and agreed with his own, mere and free will, this recognition, which now was more, now was less, which had no fixed agreement, which was approximately equal to the two percent above the cards sold in general, but for about a dozen cards, that Aldini had bought on the sole currency of other cards without stamp, and Aldini has always had this recognition in cards.
Molinelli then did not believe he had to grant as much as Rossi, and this is so true that Aldini never demanded this for Pact, who was satisfied, and was satisfied with what he willingly gave him, and which will have consisted of approximately a dozen, or a little more than papers a year; and despite this, Molinelli sold more and more of Rossi's papers to App.to, and to Aldini on his own.
What crime, what Lack, what evil did Aldini do? He certainly doesn't think he has anything to blame himself for. Prices had been fixed for a long time, they were fixed more strictly; that it had been possible, and to get the Cardmakers to agree the Cards at the agreed prices required quite a bit of effort, and a very long Treaty and Effort.
If then the cardmakers, in view of the advantages as above, reported by Aldini, wanted freely; and of their own will, and satisfaction, as demonstrated by the quiescence of about twenty-five years, to give this tenuous recognition of their own to Aldini, who has never claimed it as a Pact, which he has never had in sight, before , nor after the Treaty of the Purchase of Papers, and of the prices, which were agreed upon, He certainly did not believe that he had failed in his duty.
And that this is true, as soon as as an extrajudicial friend on the evening of August 14th, at 6 o'clock, Aldini learned that the Most Respected Mr. Counselor Gavard was carrying out some research in this matter, which he immediately with frankness and tranquility go up to His Ill. Ma; and on his own motion with all his naivety he confessed the Fact, and declared the above and that he never believed he was doing anything improper.
In fact, if Aldini had demanded this recognition de jure, he would have also demanded it from Tognacci, from whom he nevertheless bought the Papers in proportion, and at a lower price than the other Papermakers in benefit now of the Administration General; without even a shadow of this thing having occurred to me.
Furthermore, it must be added that Aldini has not had anything for at least two years, because having been able to realize that the card dealers after the law of the Games, due to which their profit was greatly reduced, showed little Satisfied with this, he paid, and paid for all the papers taken on his own, and to Rossi's Tanini, who said to give him some papers as usual, he replied no, I don't want them, and in case it will always be time.
Rossi then complains that Aldini took fewer cards from him than from Molinelli. If Aldini had had his own tenuous interest in mind, he would have preferred Rossi; But the real cause of this has always been the lack of the Papers that Rossi had in his factory, because Aldini never preferred anyone, when they had Papers, in view of anything.
Here, Most Honorable Sir, naively answered the First Article of your Questions; And coming to the Second.
It is important to point out that the Sale of Cards is not a Private Law, nor an annex to the Contract, which can be carried out by Anyone, and that the more Sellers there are, the greater the Advantage of the Contract, that the App.King General first, and then the Admin. Gen.le never held this Sale in the City of Florence, because it was certain that the Papermakers, and many other Sellers at all the hours they sold Cards, and that in the meantime it was wanted by the App.re Gen.le; and then this sale in the Posti Foranei was followed up by the General Administration, albeit with a disadvantage, because it seemed and appears that it could contribute to the sale of the Papers.
Aldini therefore, who has never been a public card seller; but who has served Friends, Ministers, Subjects of distinction, including all the leaders; delivering the Cards at the price of Thirteen Crazies for the low ones, and Twenty Crazies for the Minchiate ones; And these Cards have always been bought from the Fabricators and paid for at the legal price, as it costs by the Counts, and received.
Many bought the cards from Aldini, because they paid less for them, and because they believed they would find them better being rested here: Which in essence perhaps is not true.
This sale of cards is not only non-judicial, but it is infinitely beneficial; because every time a deck of cards is sold, a Paolo enters the cash register; And this must be the main object of whoever administers this Contract, and consequently of the General Administration.
Aldini made this quiet sale from the moment he took the contract; And so much so, that he could never have thought that there was a shadow of evil in this, that he served friends, ministers, generals, without consideration, or caution, because nothing was repugnant, could be opposed to the slightest disinterest of the House, to the most exact delicacy of the ministry, which indeed influenced, and influences, the Advantage of the House, does not prejudice, and has never been able to prejudice anyone, not even the Papermakers, who Basically they have always sold their cards.
Indeed, it seems to Aldini, if his memory did not betray him, that in some place to establish the Sale he sent the Papers for a given time, which he had paid in Cash.
The Sale of Cards is not an annex to the Conduct of the Contract, but is a particular Traffic, which is carried out at the expense of expense and with the sole object of selling many Cards, and which can perhaps even be ignored with profit in the present circumstances .
That this is true in Livorno the Sale on behalf of the App.to was left out because it was certain that there were many Sellers. The sales office was then reopened at the time of the General Administration to be more certain that the cards are sold there at all hours; but essentially for the Sale part it is called Safe Expense.
Here, with all ingenuity, is the due answer to the two questions asked in the paper by the Honorable Mr. Councilor Gavard to Dom.co Aldini and which in substance is the same one given to him spontaneously and before having received Paper Questions; with the greatest respect you have the honor to tell me
By Yours Most Honorable Ser. Dom.co Aldini
Florence 17 August 1776
5. Response and Memory of Giuseppe Gavard
A few days after the Answers to the Questions written by Domenico Aldini, councilor Gavard is able to forward his response letter to the Grand Duke, with a memorandum on the investigation he carried out.
2. Dipartimento. Carta bollata. Carte da Giuoco
V. Protocollo de 23 Settembre 1776 Del Segr.rio Di Schmidveiller N. 14
Altezza Reale
In esecuzione dell’Ordine in un Viglietto del Consigliere Angelo Tavanti segnato nel dì 12. Giugno
p.mo p.to, mi do l’onore con la qui ingiunta Memoria di render conto a Vostra Altezza Reale delle diligenze
da me praticate per venire in chiaro se sussistano diverse accuse date in una Rappresentanza anonima a
Dom.co Aldini Ministro Principale della respettiva Zienda delle Carte da giuoco, e della Carta Bollata.
Non ho saputo trovare nel contegno di D.o Aldini quella grave reità, che indicano le azzardate espressioni dell’Accusatore, parendomi soltanto che Egli abbia piuttosto in qualche parte mancato di zelo, ed a
quella scrupolosa delicatezza, che è propria di un Ministro, il quale non abbia eccezioni, che peccato contro
la fedeltà.
Qualora dunque non si voglia considerare come una pena sufficiente per l’Aldini la vera mortificazione,
che il medesimo hà provata dalle Accuse portate al Real Trono contro di Lui, credo che vi si potesse aggiungere un serio avvertimento ad esser Egli più cauto e meno interessato per l’avvenire, tanto più che dopo
la scoperta di ciò che passava tra esso, ed i Fabbricatori delle Carte, hò preso misure tali, che non vi è da
temere ulteriore inconveniente per la Zienda.
Non devo però in questa occasione tralasciare di esporre a V.A.R., che l’Aldini, a motivo della sua
sconcertata salute, e per la sua infelice attuale complessione, non è certamente più in grado di prestare
un’esatto ed assiduo servizio, come sarebbe necessario, nuocendoli notabilmente l’applicazione al segno
che esso neppure puole contrassegnare le Carte con la propria firma, prevalendosi della mano dell’Aiuto.
E prostrato appiè del regio Trono mi rassegno
Di Vostra Altezza Reale Umilissimo Serv.e e suddito Giuseppe Gavard
Firenze 26. Agosto 1776
2. Department. Stamped paper. Playing Cards
See Protocol of 23 September 1776 of the Secretary of Schmidveiller No. 14
Royal Highness
In execution of the Order in a note from the Councilor Angelo Tavanti marked on the 12th of June, I give myself the honor with the hereby enjoined Memory to give an account to Your Royal Highness of the diligence I have taken to come it is clear whether there are various accusations given in an anonymous representation to Dom.co Aldini, Principal Minister of the respective Playing Card and Stamped Card Company.
I have not been able to find in Do Aldini's behavior that grave crime indicated by the Accuser's risky expressions, it only seems to me that he has in some part lacked zeal and that scrupulous delicacy which is typical of a Minister, the which has no exceptions, what a sin against fidelity.
Therefore, if we do not want to consider the true mortification that he felt from the accusations brought against him to the Royal Throne as a sufficient punishment for Aldini, I believe that a serious warning could be added to him to be more cautious and less interested in the future, especially since after the discovery of what passed between him and the Card Makers, he took such measures that there is no need to fear further inconvenience for the Company.
However, on this occasion I must not fail to explain to VAR that Aldini, due to his disconcerted health, and his current unhappy complexion, is certainly no longer capable of providing exact and assiduous service, as it would be necessary, causing considerable harm to the application to the sign that it cannot even mark the Papers with its own signature, taking advantage of the hand of the Helper.
And prostrate beside the royal throne I resign myself
Of Your Royal Highness Most Humble Servant and subject Giuseppe Gavard
Florence 26. August 1776
Attached to the letter we find the following long Memoir, in which Gavard replies point by point to all the anonymous accusations.
MEMORIA. Per venire in chiaro, se sussistano sei Capi d’accuse date a Domenico Aldini, Ministro
principale delle Ziende delle Carte da Giuoco, e della Carta bollata, in una Rappresentanza anonima avanzata a S.A.R., e rimessami con l’ingiunto Viglietto di S.E. il Sig.re Cons.re Angelo Tavanti in data del dì
12. Giugno 1776., e segnato di N° 1, con ordine di dirne il mio sentimento, hò praticate le diligenze che
accennerò in appresso a misura che riporterò ciascun capo di d.e accuse.
5
P.mo Si dice, che il prenominato Ministro sia interessato con i Cartai di due per cento sopra le Carte,
che prende per l’Amministrazione Generale.
Tre sono in Firenze i Fabbricatori delle Carte da giuoco, cioè Zanobi Rossi, Pietro Molinelli, e l’Ebreo
Emanuelle Sacerdote sotto nome di Salvadore Tognacci.
I due primi facendo le Carte di miglior qualità, ne vendono all’Amm.ne Gen.le una maggior quantità,
che l’Ebreo, il quale ne stabilì poco tempo fà la fabbrica con il Tognacci, che fallì; Da quest’ultimo l’Aldini
non hà ricevuta alcuna recognizione, che meriti di essere rilevata.
Interrogato il Rossi, se l’istesso Aldini abbia avuto seco qualche interesse, rispose subito, che fino dal
primo tempo, in cui esso Aldini succedé al Molinelli nell’Appalto delle Carte aveva percetto un due per
cento sopra le Carte senza bollo, che li venivano conseegnatee, ò vendute, vale a dire, che sopra ogni Cento
Dozzine di Mazzi di Carte non bollate, ne riceveva due Dozzine: la quale Partecipazione puole avere importato circa scudi cinque l’anno, soggiungendo però, che dall’anno 1774. in poi l’Aldini medesimo hà
rinunziato a tale Emolumento.
Interrogato similmente il Molinelli sopra l’istesso oggetto, rispose, che aveva sempre accordato all’Aldini uno per Cento sopra le sole Carte basse venduteli, vale a dire, che per ogni Cento Dozzine di Mazzi di
dette Carte, gliene passava una Dozzina senza bollo, la quale vale L. 4.16.-, e ciò durò fino all’anno 1774.,
in cui esso Aldini desisté dal percipere d.a Partecipazione, che era molto inferiore a quella accordata dal
Rossi, poiché per il Molinelli si estendeva alle sole Carte basse, e a uno per Cento.
Domandai successivamente all’Aldini se fosse vero, che Egli ricevesse dai Cartai Rossi, e Molinelli un
tanto per cento sopra le Carte che aveva da essi comprate tanto a tempo dell’Appalto Generale, che durante
la vegliante Amministrazione; ed il medesimo non solo confessò subito in voce come la cosa era andata;
ma me ne diede ancora il discarico, che trovasi negli annessi fogli di N° 2. sotto la data del dì 17. Agosto
1776., ove Egli narra, che sul principio che esso ottenne per se l’Appalto del Bollo delle Carte, il quale
dovette poi cedere all’Appalto Generale Masson, i Cartai Molinelli e Rossi li accordarono il sopradivisato
Emolumento respettivo, in vista specialmente, che Egli non erigesse una nuova Fabbrica di Carte, la quale
avrebbe pregiudicato a loro medesimi, come avrebbe potuto fare.
Continuò dunque l’Aldini a ricevere l’accennata partecipazione nel corso dei respettivi Appalti Generali, non solo perché credette sempre di essere stato pregiudicato nella surriferita cessione, reputandosi
come Conduttore principale di tal’Impresa, ma ancora perché avendo fissati più strettamente che fosse possibile i prezzi delle Carte, che i Cartai vendevano alla Zienda, non ne risultava pregiudizio alcuno agl’Interessati; Onde con l’istessa massima hà seguitato a percipere anche nei primi anni della vegliante Amm.ne
Gen.le la sopradivisata piccola partecipazione fino all’anno 1774., che spontaneamente vi renunziò.
L’oggetto non è stato per se stesso di grande importanza; ma tolta di mezzo la sud.a partecipazione, si
poteva ottenere dai Cartai qualche piccola riduzione di alcuni dei prezzi delle Carte già fissati, conforme
mi è riuscito con indurre a forza di persuasive il Rossi a diminuire di quattro denari il prezzo del Mazzo
delle Carte basse, e di denari sei quello delle Minchiate, e con indurre similmente il Molinelli a diminuire
di denari quattro il prezzo respettivo delle une, e delle altre; e se apparisce che sulla Minchiate Io abbia
scemato al Rossi due denari più che al Molinelli, ciò deriva dall’essere sempre stato più alto di denari due
il prezzo fissato da principio col Rossi medesimo, atteso che si pretende, che le sue Carte sieno migliori di
quelle degli altri Fabbricatori. Se si considera la quantità delle Carte provviste nell’anno 1775., la sopradivisata diminuzione respettiva del prezzo delle medesime importa in vantaggio della Zienda L. 122., somma
molto superiore alla partecipazione ò Emolumento, che i Cartai accordavano all’Aldini.
Avendo dunque l’Aldini non solo desistito spontaneamente dall’anno 1774. di ricevere come prima la
sud.a partecipazione, ma confessato ancora ingenuamente tutto il seguito, non mi pare, che Egli possa essere
incolpato di dolo, ma bensì di aver mancato a quella scrupolosa delicatezza, che è propria di ogni onorato,
zelante, e disinteressato Ministro, che deve studiare, e procurare tutti i vantaggi di Chi lo tiene provvisionato
al suo Servizio.
Non sarebbe poi stato possibile di venire in cognizione del preaccennato piccolo Interesse che passava
frà l’Aldini, ed i Cartai, se i Cartai medesimi non lo avessero palesato a qualcheduno, lagnandosi in certo
modo di tale aggravio, specialmente dopo il Rincaro dei Materiali che servono alla fabbricazione delle
Carte. Per maggior sicurezza, e contro il metodo tenuto costantemente dal di p.mo Gennaio 1750. fino al
presente, hò stabilito di non lasciare più al solo Aldini l’incumbenza di provvedere le Carte, ma che Egli
concerti meco ogni volta la Compra con L’intervento del Computista, e del Magazziniere, secondo il bisogno dell’Amministrazione.
2.o Dicesi che l’Aldini in fine di ogni Quartale metta grosse Partite a Entrata, perché i Cartai paghino
meno del Loro bollato, ed anco anticipatamente prima che le Carte siano bollate, e consegnate al respettivo
Magazzino.
Quest’accusa è senza fondamento; Quando i Cartai vogliono far bollare le Carte, il Ministro fà una
Polizza della quantità, e qualità delle medesime: la registra al suo libro d’Entrata e Uscita: Addebita i Cartai
dell’importare del Bollo, secondo il numero, e la qualità delle Carte da bollarsi: Consegna d.a Polizza al
Magazziniere destinato ad assistere al Bollo nelle Stanze del Fisco: Si contano le Carte: L’istessa Polizza
rimane presso i Ministri del Fisco, i quali in fine d’anno ne fanno lo spoglio, e ne prendono pure Registro.
6
Hò stabilito che la medesima Polizza passi in mano al Computista avanti che sia portata al Fisco dal Magazziniere. In fine d’ogni trimestre fatto il conto di quanto i Cartai devono per la tassa del Bollo, e dell’importare delle Carte da essi vendute all’Amm.ne, se ne distendono dal Computista gli opportuni Mandati per
il pagamento alla Cassa, che non è amministrata dall’Aldini.
3.zo Si dice che tenga malissimo la Scrittura della Carta bollata, e delle Carte da giuoco: Che la medesima sia piena di errori, di sgorbi, e di grattature per farli dire ciò che esso vuole.
In quanto alle Carte, l’insussistenza di quest’accusa si rileva bastantemente dal tenore del precedente
articolo, e perché seguisse il supposto inconveniente, bisognerebbe che il Ministro, ed il Magazziniere fossero perfettamente d’accordo, il che non è verosimile.
Maggiore poi diventa la Calunnia rispetto alla Scrittura della Carta bollata, come si osserverà in appresso all’Articolo 6.o.
4.o Si dice che faccia un continuo, ed illecito Commercio di Carte, con vendere, far vendere, e barattare
delle Carte difettose con delle buone, che si fa dare dal Magazzino dell’Amministrazione.
In quanto al baratto delle Carte difettose, il Magazziniere Fond mi hà positivamente dichiarato, che mai
di ciò lo hà ricercato l’Aldini, onde in questa parte l’accusa è falsa.
In quanto poi alla vendita particolare delle Carte, che il pred.o Aldini fà per suo Conto, avendolo Io su
di ciò interrogato, ne hò avuta la di lui ingenua confessione nei precitati fogli segnati di N. 2., ove adduce,
che non è in privativa la vendita delle Carte; bollate che siano: Che quanto maggiore è lo Smercio delle
medesime, maggiore diventa il Prodotto del Bollo, sù cui cade appunto la Privativa: Che da ciò risulta alla
Zienda un vantaggio e non un pregiudizio, poiché la medesima scapita sulla vendita, e guadagna unicamente
a misura del maggior prodotto del Bollo, al quale contribuiscono molti Smerciatori delle Carte.
Tutte queste ragioni sono ammissibili per quello che riguarda sostanzialmente l’interesse della Zienda;
ma trovo solamente, che un tale Traffico particolare sia contrario alla delicatezza e non convenga ad un
Ministro provvisionato dalla Zienda medesima, il quale dà sempre da sospettare di se a chi non è bene
informato dell’interno sistema di questa piccola Amministraz.e; Perciò hò significato all’Aldini essere di
suo decoro il renunziare al sud.o Smercio particolare, il quale riducesi poi ad un tenue oggetto, il suo unico
guadagno consistendo nell’ottenere dai Cartai qualche piccola agevolezza sul prezzo delle Carte, che compra da loro in poca quantità, rimanendo però sempre intatta la tassa del Bollo pagata dai Cartai medesimi.
5.o Rilevasi, che l’Aldini riceveva da S.A.R. L 282. l’anno di più della sua solita Provvis.e, acciò pagasse un’Aiuto, e che hà tenuto per tre anni un tale Cammillo Targioni senza pagarla ma con lusingarlo
solamente di procurarli un’Impiego, che esso Targioni non hà peranche ottenuto.
Con benigno Rescritto del dì 11. Giugno 1770. fù accordato all’Aldini un’aumento di Provvisione di
L.282. l’anno, acciò tenesse un’Aiuto di sua scelta, ed a sue spese. Egli si prevalse veramente del prenominato Targioni, né premeva all’Amministrazione gen.le di sapere quali condizioni erano state pattuite frà di
loro. Il Targioni però ricorse a S.A.R. lagnandosi dell’Aldini, ed in una mia lunga Informazione del dì 16.
Febb. 1773. delucidai tutte le circostanze dell’affare. L’Aldini si servì successivamente di un altro aiuto,
contro la scelta del quale reclamai, trattandosi di un Ragazzetto, della cui esattezza non vi era da compromettersi; Ma S.A.R. avendo per Rescritto del dì 28 Xbre 1775. fatto cessare all’Aldini il buonificamento
delle sopraccennate L 282; con averli assegnato un’altro Aiuto stipendiato dall’Amministrazione; L’accusa
che si dà all’Aldini sù quest’Articolo non mi sembra meritare ulteriore attenzione, ò discussione.
6.o Dicesi finalmente, che l’Aldini amministri male la Carta bollata, ricevendo certi Regali, per i quali
Egli ammette la Carta inferiore ai Campioni, non servendo che il Magazziniere Fond strepiti, e se ne lamenti.
Il Ministro non può assolutamente far male sù questa Partita, se non in quanto Egli fosse capace d’intendersela con il Magazziniere, e con gli Sceglitori per ricevere Carta scadente, ed inferiore ai Campioni: I
prezzi della Carta furono fissati previa una specie d’Incanto con le più rigorose diligenze: Quando la Carta
arriva da Colle a Firenze, passa immediatamente alla consegna del Magazziniere; la Scrittura ne è respettivamente ben tenuta dal Ministro principale, dal Magazziniere, e dal Computista; Una sol volta parve al
Magazziniere Fond, che una Partita di Carta non fosse di tutta perfezione; ma essendosene fatta la Perizia
da più, e diversi Cartai esperti alla mia presenza, si riconobbe veramente, che la medesima non era da
rigettarsi. La maggiore giustificazione poi da darsi sù questa materia è, che a tempo dell’attuale Impresario
della Carta da bollo non si sono più sentiti i Ricorsi, che per l’avanti erano frequenti sopra la qualità di d.a
Carta, e che l’eccezioni date poche volte da taluni erano riferibili alla cattiva qualità dell’Inchiostro, ed al
modo dello scrivere, piuttosto che ad un’imperfezione essenziale che ci fosse nella Carta bollata.
26. Ag.o 1776 Giuseppe Gavard
MEMORY. To clarify, whether there are six counts of accusation given to Domenico Aldini, main Minister of the Playing Card and Stamped Paper Companies, in an anonymous representation made to HRH, and sent to me with the injunction Viglietto of HE Mr. King Cons.re Angelo Tavanti dated 12th June 1776, and marked with No. 1, with the order to express my opinion, I have carried out the diligence that I will mention below to the extent that each item will report of accusations.
P.mo It is said that the aforementioned Minister is interested in the Cardmakers of two percent above the Cards, which he takes for the General Administration.
There are three Playing Card Makers in Florence, namely Zanobi Rossi, Pietro Molinelli, and the Jew Emanuelle Sacerdote under the name of Salvadore Tognacci.
The first two, making papers of better quality, sell a greater quantity of them to the General Administration than the Jew, who established the factory a short time ago with Tognacci, who went bankrupt; Aldini did not receive any recognition from the latter that deserves to be noted.
When Rossi was questioned whether Aldini himself had any interest in him, he immediately replied that from the first time, in which Aldini succeeded Molinelli in the Contract for the Papers, he had received two percent on the Papers without stamp duty, which they were delivered and sold, that is to say, that out of every One Hundred Dozens of Unstamped Decks of Cards, he received two Dozens: which Participation may have imported about five scudi a year, adding however, that from the year 1774 Onwards Aldini himself renounced this emolument.
When Molinelli was similarly questioned on the same subject, he replied that he had always granted Aldini one per cent on the sole low cards sold to him, that is to say, that for every hundred dozen decks of said cards, he gave him a dozen without stamp duty. , which is worth L. 4.16.-, and this lasted until the year 1774, in which Aldini desisted from receiving the Partecipazione, which was much lower than that granted by Rossi, since it extended through the Molinelli to low cards only, and to one percent.
I subsequently asked Aldini if it was true that he received from the Papermakers Rossi and Molinelli a certain percentage of the Papers he had purchased from them both at the time of the General Contract and during the Supervising Administration; and the same man not only immediately confessed in his voice how the matter had happened; but he still gave me the discharge, which is found in the annexed sheets of No. 2 under the date of August 17, 1776, where he narrates that on the principle that he obtained for himself the Contract for the Stamp Papers, which he then had to surrender to the General Contractor Masson, the Papermakers Molinelli and Rossi granted him the above-mentioned respective Emolument, especially in view that he would not build a new Paper Factory, which would have prejudiced themselves, as he could have done.
Aldini therefore continued to receive the aforementioned participation during the respective General Contracts, not only because it always believed it had been prejudiced in the aforementioned transfer, considering itself as the main Tenant of that Company, but also because it had established more strictly that it was possible the prices of the Papers, which the Papermakers sold to the Company, there was no prejudice whatsoever to the Interested parties; Therefore, with the same maxim, he continued to receive the above-divided small participation even in the early years of the vigilant General Administrative Officer until the year 1774, who spontaneously renounced it.
The object was not in itself of great importance; but once the aforementioned participation was out of the way, it was possible to obtain from the Cardmakers some small reductions in some of the prices of the Cards already fixed, as I was able to persuade Rossi to reduce the price of the Deck of Cards by four denarii. Low cards, and of six denarii that of the Minchiate, and similarly inducing Molinelli to reduce the respective price of one and the other by four denarii; and if it appears that on the Minchiate I have reduced Rossi by two denarii more than by Molinelli, this derives from the price initially set by Rossi himself having always been two denarii higher, given that it is claimed that his Cards are better than those of other Fabricators. If we consider the quantity of cards supplied in the year 1775, the aforementioned respective decrease in the price of the same amounts to the advantage of the Company L. 122., a sum much higher than the participation - Emolument, which the card makers granted to Aldini.
Having therefore not only spontaneously desisted from the year 1774 from receiving the aforementioned participation as before, but still naively confessed all the rest, it does not seem to me that he can be blamed for fraud, but rather for having failed to that scrupulous delicacy, which is typical of every honoured, zealous and disinterested Minister, who must study and procure all the advantages of Whoever keeps him provided for his Service.
It would not have been possible to become aware of the aforementioned small interest that passed between Aldini and the paper makers, if the paper makers themselves had not revealed it to someone, complaining in a certain way about this burden, especially after the increase in the price of materials. which are used for the manufacture of cards. For greater security, and against the method consistently followed from the first of January 1750 until the present, I have decided to no longer leave the task of providing the Papers to Aldini alone, but that He agrees with me every time the Purchase with the intervention of the accountant and the warehouse worker, according to the needs of the administration.
2.o It is said that Aldini places large Entry Lots at the end of each Quartale, so that the Cardmakers pay less than their stamped amount, and also in advance before the Cards are stamped and delivered to the respective Warehouse.
This accusation is without foundation; When the Cardmakers want to have the Cards stamped, the Minister draws up a Policy of the quantity and quality of the same: he records it in his Entry and Exit book: He charges the Cardmakers for importing the Stamp, according to the number, and the quality of the Papers to be stamped: Delivery from the Policy to the Warehouse Manager assigned to attend the Stamp in the Tax Rooms: The Papers are counted: The same Policy remains with the Tax Ministers, who at the end of the year carry it out , and they also take Register of it. I have established that the same Policy passes into the hands of the Accountant before it is brought to the Tax Office by the Warehouse Keeper. At the end of each quarter, once an account has been taken of how much the Cardmakers owe for the stamp duty, and of the import of the Cards sold by them to the Administration, the appropriate Mandates for payment to the Cashier are drawn up by the Accountant, which It is not administered by Aldini.
3.zo It is said that he has a very poor record of the writing of the stamped paper and of the playing cards: that it is full of errors, scribbles and scratchings to make it say what he wants.
As for the Papers, the non-existence of this accusation is sufficiently evident from the tenor of the previous article, and for the supposed inconvenience to occur, the Minister and the Storekeeper would have to be in perfect agreement, which is not likely.
The calumny then becomes greater with respect to the writing of the Carta stampa, as will be observed below in Article 6.o.
4.o It is said that he carries out a continuous and illicit trade in cards, selling, having sold, and exchanging defective cards for good ones, which he gets from the Administration Warehouse.
As regards the exchange of the defective papers, the Warehouse Manager Fond positively declared to me that Aldini never sought this, therefore the accusation in this part is false.
As regards the particular sale of the Papers, which the former Aldini carried out on his behalf, having questioned him about it, I received his naive confession in the aforementioned sheets marked No. 2, where he adduces , that the sale of the Cards is not private; stamps that are: That the greater the sale of the same, the greater the Product of the Stamp becomes, so that the Privative Decree falls: That this results in an advantage for the Company and not a detriment, since the same is deducted from the sale, and earns only in proportion to the increased revenue from the Stamp Duty, to which many Card Dealers contribute.
All these reasons are admissible as far as the interests of the Company are concerned; but I only find that such a particular Traffic is contrary to delicacy and is not suitable for a Minister supported by the Company itself, who always gives rise to suspicion to those who are not well informed of the internal system of this small Administration; Therefore it was felt to Aldini that it was in his dignity to renounce the South or particular sale, which was then reduced to a small object, his only gain consisting in obtaining from the Cardmakers some small relief on the price of the Cards, which he buys by them in small quantities, while the stamp duty paid by the cardmakers themselves always remains intact.
5.o It should be noted that Aldini received from HRH L 282. per year more than his usual provision, so that he could pay an aid, and that he kept a certain Cammillo Targioni for three years without paying it but with only flattering him to get him a job, which Targioni did not even obtain.
With a benign Rescript dated 11 June 1770, an increase in Provision of L.282 was granted to Aldini. per year, so that he could hold an assistant of his choice, and at his own expense. He really took advantage of the aforementioned Targioni, nor did the General Administration care to know what conditions had been agreed between them. Targioni, however, resorted to HRH complaining about Aldini, and in a long information of mine dated 16 February. 1773. I explained all the circumstances of the affair. Aldini subsequently made use of another assistant, against whose choice I complained, since it was a little boy, whose accuracy there was no need to compromise; But HRH having, by Rescript dated 28 October 1775, made Aldini cease the improvement of the aforementioned L 282; with having assigned them another assistant paid by the Administration; The accusation that is leveled against Aldini in this Article does not seem to me to deserve further attention, it is a discussion.
6.o Finally, it is said that Aldini mismanages the stamped paper, receiving certain gifts, for which he admits the paper is inferior to the samples, with no need for the warehouseman Fond to make a fuss and complain about it.
The Minister absolutely cannot do harm to this Match, except in so far as He was capable of reaching an agreement with the Warehouse Manager, and with the Selectors to receive poor quality Paper, and inferior to the Samples: The prices of the Paper were fixed after a kind d�Incanto with the most rigorous diligence: When the Card arrives from Colle to Florence, it is immediately handed over to the Warehouseman; the Scripture is respectively well kept by the Chief Minister, by the Storekeeper, and by the Accountant; Only once did it appear to Storekeeper Fond that a batch of paper was not entirely perfect; but since a further appraisal had been carried out, and several expert cardmakers were in my presence, it was truly recognized that the same was not to be rejected. The major justification to be given in this matter is that at the time of the current Stamp Paper Manager the Appeals were no longer heard, which previously were frequent regarding the quality of Stamp Paper, and that the The exceptions given a few times by some were attributable to the poor quality of the ink and the way of writing, rather than to an essential imperfection in the stamped paper.
26. Aug. 1776 Giuseppe Gavard
6. Resolution ticket
The latest document on the issue is a short "note" without a header, recipient or sender, written quickly without taking care of handwriting, but clearly of an official nature.
Vuole S.A.R. che resti ultimato l’affare delle accuse portate contro Domenico Aldini Ministro delle
Carte da giuoco e della Carta Bollata, con fargli una seria ammonizione.
V. Risoluzione di S.A.R. de12 Sett.e 1776 N° 26. - V. P. S. 23. Sett.e 1776 N° 14.
And so "the deal remains completed". The serious accusations have been denied. The Grand Duke accepts Councilor Gavard's proposal, but accepts it in the heavier version. According to the councillor, Aldini's hierarchical superior, the mortification suffered by the minister due to the accusations and the subsequent investigation would also have been sufficient. The Grand Duke, or someone on his behalf, instead judges that a serious warning is necessary.HRH wants the matter of the accusations brought against Domenico Aldini, Minister of Playing Cards and Stamped Paper, to be completed, with a serious warning to him.
See SAR Resolution of 12 September 1776 N� 26. - VPS 23. September 1776 N� 14.
The fact is that the discovery, only following the anonymous accusations, of Aldini's anything but exemplary conduct ends up directly affecting Gavard himself, who only now realizes the situation and takes initiatives aimed at making it more The relationship between the minister and the paper makers must be regulated. If things had been functioning badly for a quarter of a century, a severe punishment for Aldini would logically have entailed a punishment, however reduced, for Gavard too. It is for this reason that in such cases it is customary to entrust the investigation to a third party judge.
7. Conclusions
From the investigation into Domenico Aldini we obtain quite precise indications, both explicit and implicit, on the control of the production of playing cards in Florence in the second half of the eighteenth century and in particular on the figure of Domenico Aldini, first contractor and then main minister of the sector .
The defense of the minister by his superior (which appears to be a defense rather than an objective investigation into the various accusations) suggests that between the lines Aldini's behavior went well beyond his official duties . Aldini received a salary far higher than that of all his employees. In the same 1776 the distribution of the annual provisions of the office were distributed as follows, in lire: Aldini 1700, Manetti's assistant 400, Fond warehouseman 200, Soldi forwarder 60, Brunelleschi stamper 53.6.8. (Footnote 4)
Evidently Aldini intended to earn even more. The situation was made embarrassing by the fact that while the "principal minister" was more or less illegally topping up his large salary, his employees, who were aware of it, forwarded requests to the Grand Duke to obtain small bonuses or salary increases, regularly pointing out the conditions of poverty in which their family found themselves.
One of his tasks, perhaps the main one, was to write his signature on a playing card of all the decks of cards put on the market. For this reason, he even had recourse to an assistant who signed "Domenico Aldini" in his place; the assistant was paid first indirectly (with an increase in Aldini's salary which in theory, but not in practice, had to be fully transferred to the assistant) and then directly by the administration. Furthermore, it turns out that Aldini had also found ways to increase his already abundant salary, thanks to under-the-table agreements with Florentine card makers whereby he could receive from them, and then sell, packs of cards for free or at a reduced price .
Perhaps the anonymous accusations were more striking than they should have been, but certainly almost all of Aldini and Gavard's justifications appear rather weak to us.
Florence, 21.11.2023
Footnotes
1 https://www.naibi.net/A/BOLLO1781.pdf
2 https://archiviodistatofirenze.cultura. ... -finanze-a
3 F. Pratesi Playing-Card Production in Florence. Tricase 2018; F. Pratesi, Card games in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Ariccia 2015
4 F. Pratesi Playing-Card Production in Florence. Tricase 2018, on p. 23; https://www.naibi.net/A/209-1775TUSC-Z.docx; http://trionfi.com/ev09