Letter from J. L. Martell to Poulet... (1836)

NRA-L-000400 / 1836

Letter from J. L. Martell to Poulet père & fils, 1836-04-11

J. L. Martell discusses his financial difficulties, a proposed thirty-percent dividend to creditors, wine valuation, and the personal and commercial relationship with Poulet père & fils.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000400

NRA-L-000400 image 1 showing the folded address panel to a recipient in Beaune, with postal marks, a dark sealing remnant and manuscript docketing. — **Image 1**Address panel to Beaune, with postal marks, sealing remnant and docketing.

NRA-L-000400 image 2 showing the first page of a long handwritten French letter dated in Paris, with folds and dense text. — **Image 2**First page of a letter dated in Paris, with extensive commercial and personal discussion.

NRA-L-000400 image 3 showing the continuation of a long handwritten French letter across a folded sheet. — **Image 3**Continuation of the long letter, written across the folded sheet.

NRA-L-000400 image 4 showing the closing portion of a handwritten French letter with a prominent signature, sealing remnant, postal marks and folds. — **Image 4**Closing portion of the letter with prominent signature, seal and postal marks.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000400
Date: 1836-04-11
Original date: Paris 11 Avril 1836
Type: Commercial correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: J. L. Martell
Recipient: Poulet père & fils
Places: Paris / Beaune / Paris–Beaune
Extent: 4 documentary sides: Address panel and postal evidence; Letter text, first page; Letter text, continuation; Letter text, closing and postal evidence; 4 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000400.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Messieurs Poulet Pere & fils
Beaune
Côte D'or.

Address panel

English translation

Messrs. Poulet Father & sons
Beaune
Côte D'or.

Letter text, first page

Original transcript

Paris 11 Avril 1836.

Votre voyageur Mr. Chambose est venu le 6 Ct. me remettre
Mon cher Monsieur la lettre de V/ Maison du 9 Mars repondant à celle
que je vous avais adressée le 9 Fevr. & 1er. Mars recapitulant tout ce qui
s'etait passé entre nous depuis l'epoque de mes difficultes, qui loin de presenter
l'amelioration desirée dans ma position n'offre qu'un capital en marchandises
suffisant à peine pour etablir le dividende de 30 p% dont je vous ai parlé
dans ma dernier & que vous vous refusez de recevoir, malgré l'acquiescement
presque general de tous mes Créanciers à cet arrangement. Pour convaincus
de mes malheurs & de la droiture & de la loyauté de mes procedes n'ont pas
hesités un moment à y souscrire - J'espere donc, Mon cher Monsieur
Auguste, qu'en ressouvenance de nos anciens rapports d'amitié & de
l'importance des affaires que nous avons traittées ensemble, & dans lesquelles
j'ai été bien malheureux en dernier lieu ainsi que vous le savez, vous voudrez
bien vous joindre aussi à eux & accepter ce dividende comme je vous l'ai detaillé
par ma dern. Tous les vins qui le composent sont excellents & parfaitement
choisis. - Vous pouvez vous reposer sur mon palais - J'en aurais moi même

Letter text, first page

English translation

Paris 11 April 1836.

Your traveler Mr. Chambose came on the 6th of this month to deliver to me,
my dear Sir, the letter from your House of 9 March replying to the one
that I had addressed to you on 9 Feb. & 1 March recapitulating everything that
had happened between us since the time of my difficulties, which far from presenting
the desired improvement in my position offers only a capital in merchandise
barely sufficient to establish the dividend of 30 percent of which I spoke to you
in my last & which you refuse to receive, despite the almost general
acquiescence of all my Creditors to this arrangement. To convince
of my misfortunes & of the uprightness & loyalty of my proceedings have not
hesitated a moment to subscribe to it - I hope therefore, my dear Monsieur
Auguste, that in remembrance of our old relations of friendship & of
the importance of the business that we have transacted together, & in which
I have been very unfortunate lately as you know, you will be willing
to join them also & accept this dividend as I detailed it to you
by my last. All the wines that compose it are excellent & perfectly
chosen. - You can rely on my palate - I would have myself

Letter text, continuation

Original transcript

rendu juge votre voyageur, si je l'avais cru competent dans cette expertise
mais au dedain avec lequel il traitta ma proposition la taxant de Gachis
j'avais pensé que cet intermediaire eut les connaissances necessaires pour
qu'on rapportat à la degustation. Je vous prie donc, Mon cher Monsieur, de
m'epargner l'humiliation de discuter à l'avenir avec Mr. Chambose des
interets qui lui sont étrangers & de renfermer cette discussion entre nous.

Rappellez vous aussi que vous m'avez promis de m'indemniser
sur une partie de Volnay que vous me vendites en 1829 & sur laquelle je perdis
70 p% & que sur ceux qui font l'objet de n/ discussion presente, je perdrai
vraisemblablement l'entier Capital - Cette réclamation est basée sur la justice
vous ne pouvez donc y être sourd & j'espere aussi que vous preterez une oreille
favorable à celle de la vieille amitié & de l'ancien attachement qui a uni nos deux
maisons depuis si longtems. Faite, Mon cher Monsieur Auguste, que je puisse
être bientot à même de reprendre les affaires & de m'efforcer par mon travail
& par les secours que j'espere trouver chez mes amis, de regagner ce que j'ai perdu
Vous ne voudrez pas en consideration de toutes ces raisons vous refusez à m'entendre
& dans l'espoir d'une reponse prompte & favorable, je vous renouvelle ici Mon

Letter text, continuation

English translation

made your traveler the judge, if I had believed him competent in this appraisal
but at the disdain with which he treated my proposal taxing it as a Mess
I had thought that this intermediary had the necessary knowledge for
one to refer to the tasting. I pray you therefore, my dear Sir, to
spare me the humiliation of discussing in the future with Mr. Chambose
interests which are foreign to him & to confine this discussion between us.

Remember also that you promised to indemnify me
on a lot of Volnay that you sold me in 1829 & on which I lost
70 percent & that on those which are the object of our present discussion, I will lose
in all likelihood the entire Capital - This claim is based on justice
you cannot therefore be deaf to it & I hope also that you will lend a favorable
ear to that of the old friendship & of the old attachment which has united our two
houses for so long. Act, my dear Monsieur Auguste, so that I may
soon be able to resume business & to strive by my work
& by the help that I hope to find among my friends, to regain what I have lost
You will not want in consideration of all these reasons to refuse to hear me
& in the hope of a prompt & favorable reply, I renew to you here my

Letter text and closing

Original transcript

cher Monsieur, l'assurance bien Cordiale de mes Civilités affectueuses

Votre tout dévoué

J L Martell

Letter text and closing

English translation

dear Sir, the very Cordial assurance of my affectionate Civilities

Your entirely devoted

J L Martell

Discovery Terms

Cognac trade
Martell
Creditors
Dividend
Wine valuation
Paris
Beaune
France — domestic trade

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