Jean de LACOSTE, Minister of the Navy in March 16/July 20, 1 - Lot 171

Jean de LACOSTE, Minister of the Navy in March 16/July 20, 1792 (Dax/Landes 1730-1820. Letter signed LACOSTE, as Minister of the Navy, Paris April 27, 1792, addressed to M. POSSEL in TOULON (Var), concerning the casting of Bells for coinage: 1 page folio. "M. de BERTRAND, Monsieur, conditionally authorized you, on January 9, to pass to the Marseilles mint, 1200 pounds of old bells existing in Toulon. Mr. CLAVIÈRE, Minister of Public Contributions, now wishes to see this transfer carried out, and proposes to have this metal paid for in cash, at the rate of 15 sols per pound. Although I have reason to believe that these bells are absolutely useless to the service, I am only responding provisionally to Mr. CLAVIÈRE, and I ask you to let me know promptly what you think of this Minister's proposal."