TALLEYRAND-PÉRIGORD (Charles-Maurice de). Letter signed "ch. mau. talleyrand" as interim Minister of the Navy to Raymond-Antoine Haran, principal commissioner of the Navy in Bayonne. Paris, 8 Floréal year VII [27 April 1799]. One folio page, printed letterhead "le ministre de la Marine et des Colonies" with woodcut vignette depicting the allegory of the "Liberté des mers" [Freedom of the Seas]. "I see... that the Republic's frigate La Volontaire, during a stopover in Spain, has incurred an expense of 8,794 f. which was advanced by cen Cabarrus, a trader in this port; that this citizen sent you detailed statements of this expenditure in order to obtain reimbursement from you; but that you sent everything back to the port of Rochefort, warning cen Cabarrus that it was there that his debt should be verified and paid. You add that this trader, who never misses an opportunity to make himself useful to the French Navy, intends to send me his claim himself. If he does so, I will accept it on the basis of the good things you tell me about his obliging behaviour towards our sailors; but I have not yet received anything and you did very well to send the documents relating to this matter, which reached you, directly to Rochefort. I am convinced that the harbour master will comply with your request without needing any recommendation...". A Spanish financier, François Cabarrus founded the San Carlos bank, the country's first central bank, and was King Joseph's Minister of Finance under the Empire. His daughter, the famous Madame Tallien, was the mistress of Director Barras and later of financier Ouvrard, and a close friend of Joséphine de Beauharnais. Attached is a steel-engraved portrait of the Prince de Talleyrand.