Pierre-Augustin Caron de BEAUMARCHAIS (1732-1799). L.S., Paris October 9, 1774, to M. Airain, procureur à Tours; 3 pages in-4, address. Letter concerning his business affairs and the exploitation of the Chinon forest, on his return from a secret mission to Vienna. He is back in Paris "after three months of forced absence", and comes to his business with the Major, in order to "get paid for 30,000 francs of supplies we made to the Royal Navy". The timing was right, as "the new Minister of the Navy [Sartine] honored me with a very special kindness". He therefore asks Airain for a "little instructive memorandum" on the market for wood delivered to the Commissaire de la Marine; he will present it to the Minister: "if I don't get any money for it, I'll try to get the Controlleur General [Turgot] and M. de Sartine to transfer the 30,000 francs the King owes me to the sums I owe him myself". He also mentions "our lawsuit against the bankrupt debtor in Nantes", as well as other current affairs...