NRA-L-000404 / 1854
Letter from John A. F. Rachau to Otard Dupuy & Co, 1854-10-03
John A. F. Rachau discusses remittances, brandy orders and credit terms in the United States and Canada, the failed Madeira vintage, rising Hennessy prices, and the possible effects of the Maine Liquor Law.
Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000404
Transcript and readable English text
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Original transcript
p Arabia
Messieurs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
Charente
France
via Paris
Address panel
Readable English text
p Arabia
Messieurs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
Charente
France
via Paris
Letter text, first page
Original transcript
Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
New York 3d October 1854
Dear Sirs
I had this pleasure last on
the 29th Ulto & I advised enclosing in four firsts of Exchang f 10000 ~
and f 15642 27/ of which the seconds are annexed.
I then requested you to debit me, against the above in New Account,
with f 15000, to the Credit of Mr V. Barsalou, last 24 Decr.
and f 10000 " " " " Mess Bayaud & Treadwell 24 Decr
which, confirming, have now to acknowledge the receipt of your favor 16 Sepr
Messrs Bayaud & Treadwell tell me of having remitted you further
f 20000, which, I presume, will nearly cover their indebtedness so far.
They have been expecting to hear from you about an additional ship=
ment of a previous order at f 19.40 or under, in which, no doubt, they must
be mistaken, at least as regards the price of f 18.50. They sent you some
more orders lately, of which I have no particulars.
I have been informed by Messrs R E Kelly & Co that they had requested
their Senior to apply to you for another supply of Brandy, but believe
they counterorder'd it on hearing of the late advance to f 20.40.
Unless they come to a more convenient arrangement for an earlier settle=
ment of their purchases, I shall not at all be sorry if they go without
further supplies from you. The time already taken to square off the
shipment p James Gray, is quite unreasonable, and in many respects it
is not desirable to have such operations repeated, without a positive
understanding when payment is to be made. It has caused many urgent
enquiries from our other friends, if Messrs Kelly & Co have promptly settled for
such large importations, and whence they got the means to do it.
To avoid the supposition that they were allowed unusual facilities,
of which others might be anxious to avail on similar occasions, and in
order to strengthen the Credit of the House with whom we deal so largely, I
have been compelled to maintain that their settlement was perfectly
Letter text, first page
Readable English text
Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
New York 3d October 1854
Dear Sirs
I had this pleasure last on
the 29th Ulto & I advised enclosing in four firsts of Exchang f 10000 ~
and f 15642 27/ of which the seconds are annexed.
I then requested you to debit me, against the above in New Account,
with f 15000, to the Credit of Mr V. Barsalou, last 24 Decr.
and f 10000 " " " " Mess Bayaud & Treadwell 24 Decr
which, confirming, have now to acknowledge the receipt of your favor 16 Sepr
Messrs Bayaud & Treadwell tell me of having remitted you further
f 20000, which, I presume, will nearly cover their indebtedness so far.
They have been expecting to hear from you about an additional ship=
ment of a previous order at f 19.40 or under, in which, no doubt, they must
be mistaken, at least as regards the price of f 18.50. They sent you some
more orders lately, of which I have no particulars.
I have been informed by Messrs R E Kelly & Co that they had requested
their Senior to apply to you for another supply of Brandy, but believe
they counterorder'd it on hearing of the late advance to f 20.40.
Unless they come to a more convenient arrangement for an earlier settle=
ment of their purchases, I shall not at all be sorry if they go without
further supplies from you. The time already taken to square off the
shipment p James Gray, is quite unreasonable, and in many respects it
is not desirable to have such operations repeated, without a positive
understanding when payment is to be made. It has caused many urgent
enquiries from our other friends, if Messrs Kelly & Co have promptly settled for
such large importations, and whence they got the means to do it.
To avoid the supposition that they were allowed unusual facilities,
of which others might be anxious to avail on similar occasions, and in
order to strengthen the Credit of the House with whom we deal so largely, I
have been compelled to maintain that their settlement was perfectly
Letter text, continuation
Original transcript
satisfactory, a story very reluctant to my way of thinking.
As prices must further advance, they are in no hurry to settle with me
for the remaining 50 half Pipes ex James Gray, but am in hopes to see
this dependency closed before long.
The information about Mr Hugh Fraser, obtained indirect, fully con
firms what I already said on the 16 Sepr. He is consider'd a very
honorable and trustworthy merchant, well suited for the purpose you
require, but of very limited means.
The great difficulty in the Canadian trade is to obtain a ready
settlement on arrival of Goods order'd, as a Credit of 3 to 4 Mths is
always expected, which involves frequently a considerable risk, for
which a simple charge for Interest is a very unadequate remuneration.
The large importers there are not easily brought to offend their
correspondents in England, through whom they obtain such a variety
of articles bought by them on liberal terms, and in consequence
thereof prefer to give them orders for other Goods on which their
London friends enjoy a liberal Commission. Therefore only the second
class of dealers can be induced to give direct orders for Brandies,
who, as I have said, expect a Credit on arrival. I may have
taken not quite a right view of this case, but cannot help to remark
that should Mr Fraser tapp the retail trade, by taking orders for a few
half Pipes each, the hope to secure any respectable wholesale dealer
must be very slight. The present high prices must necessarily
check the Consumption in Canada as well as elsewhere.
Mr Siqueira returned from Europa by the America p Liverpool on the 30 Sepr
but anxious to reach his home in Philadelphia, I had very little
conversation with him on business matters. He feels extremely grateful
for your friendly attentions to him whilst with you.
His report about the total failure of the Vintage in Madeira,
and elsewhere, is really distressing, and leads me to apprehend
that the trade in Wines and Spirits is in danger of annihilation
for some years to come. It is always best to hope for better things,
Letter text, continuation
Readable English text
satisfactory, a story very reluctant to my way of thinking.
As prices must further advance, they are in no hurry to settle with me
for the remaining 50 half Pipes ex James Gray, but am in hopes to see
this dependency closed before long.
The information about Mr Hugh Fraser, obtained indirect, fully con
firms what I already said on the 16 Sepr. He is consider'd a very
honorable and trustworthy merchant, well suited for the purpose you
require, but of very limited means.
The great difficulty in the Canadian trade is to obtain a ready
settlement on arrival of Goods order'd, as a Credit of 3 to 4 Mths is
always expected, which involves frequently a considerable risk, for
which a simple charge for Interest is a very unadequate remuneration.
The large importers there are not easily brought to offend their
correspondents in England, through whom they obtain such a variety
of articles bought by them on liberal terms, and in consequence
thereof prefer to give them orders for other Goods on which their
London friends enjoy a liberal Commission. Therefore only the second
class of dealers can be induced to give direct orders for Brandies,
who, as I have said, expect a Credit on arrival. I may have
taken not quite a right view of this case, but cannot help to remark
that should Mr Fraser tapp the retail trade, by taking orders for a few
half Pipes each, the hope to secure any respectable wholesale dealer
must be very slight. The present high prices must necessarily
check the Consumption in Canada as well as elsewhere.
Mr Siqueira returned from Europa by the America p Liverpool on the 30 Sepr
but anxious to reach his home in Philadelphia, I had very little
conversation with him on business matters. He feels extremely grateful
for your friendly attentions to him whilst with you.
His report about the total failure of the Vintage in Madeira,
and elsewhere, is really distressing, and leads me to apprehend
that the trade in Wines and Spirits is in danger of annihilation
for some years to come. It is always best to hope for better things,
Letter text, conclusion
Original transcript
but I must confess the future looks extremely gloomy, and since
the disease in the Vines has become so very general, it is not likely
that it will disappear all at once.
The value of all the Wines and Brandies still left must rise
in proportion to their encreasing scarcity, so that ere long they will
rank among luxuries, too high in prices to continue as a beverage.
Mess Hennessy already talk of f 24 p Velt, and refuse every
engagement unless considerably above f 20.40. There is scarcely
any doubt that your prices will reach the above figure before
the end of the year. This would be equal to $ 5.10 p Gallon here.
At present the $ 4.50, command only from $ 4.30 a 50, at which the
sales are extremely small.
It appears that Mess G. Heidsieck & Sons still are indebted to you
about f 18000, for which they occasionally express some desire
to remit through me, but the Exchange seems always to be too
high for them. The above contains the last Invoice they
had, p Felicia, besides a Balance of a preceding one.
I am surprised that people so full of should allow this amount
to be left so long unpaid. They have only a few Casks of your
Brandy unsold, but purchased a round parcel lately of Marett's
Brandy, on which they are likely to make a large profit. I did not
expect that they would touch any Brandies but yours, but as they
talk of quitting the trade should the 'Maine Liquor Law' be enacted,
we are likely to have nothing further from them.
There are several parcels of P. Cale afloat, which holders are anxious
to realize, and do sell at reduced prices. Mr Hilger and Mr Pender
supplied themselves through these channels, afraid of importing
Brandies at present high and uncertain prices.
I remain with esteem,
Dear Sirs
Yours faithfully
John A. F. Rachau.
Letter text, conclusion
Readable English text
but I must confess the future looks extremely gloomy, and since
the disease in the Vines has become so very general, it is not likely
that it will disappear all at once.
The value of all the Wines and Brandies still left must rise
in proportion to their encreasing scarcity, so that ere long they will
rank among luxuries, too high in prices to continue as a beverage.
Mess Hennessy already talk of f 24 p Velt, and refuse every
engagement unless considerably above f 20.40. There is scarcely
any doubt that your prices will reach the above figure before
the end of the year. This would be equal to $ 5.10 p Gallon here.
At present the $ 4.50, command only from $ 4.30 a 50, at which the
sales are extremely small.
It appears that Mess G. Heidsieck & Sons still are indebted to you
about f 18000, for which they occasionally express some desire
to remit through me, but the Exchange seems always to be too
high for them. The above contains the last Invoice they
had, p Felicia, besides a Balance of a preceding one.
I am surprised that people so full of should allow this amount
to be left so long unpaid. They have only a few Casks of your
Brandy unsold, but purchased a round parcel lately of Marett's
Brandy, on which they are likely to make a large profit. I did not
expect that they would touch any Brandies but yours, but as they
talk of quitting the trade should the 'Maine Liquor Law' be enacted,
we are likely to have nothing further from them.
There are several parcels of P. Cale afloat, which holders are anxious
to realize, and do sell at reduced prices. Mr Hilger and Mr Pender
supplied themselves through these channels, afraid of importing
Brandies at present high and uncertain prices.
I remain with esteem,
Dear Sirs
Yours faithfully
John A. F. Rachau.
Discovery Terms
- Cognac trade
- Otard Dupuy
- Hennessy
- Brandy
- Credit
- Canada
- Madeira vintage
- Maine Liquor Law
- New York
- United States