Letter and order copy from Frank... (1862)

NRA-L-000416 / 1862

Letter and order copy from Frank Otard to Otard Dupuy & Co, 1862-02-18

Frank Otard sends bills of exchange and a remittance from Patterson & Boulton, comments on the inactive American trade and recent Union victories, and encloses a duplicate order from J. P. Kellogg & Co for 1861 pale brandy.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000416

NRA-L-000416 image 1 showing a folded address panel to Otard Dupuy & Co in Cognac, routed via England, with postal marks, a seal and manuscript docketing. — **Image 1**Address panel to Otard Dupuy & Co in Cognac, routed via England, with postal marks, seal and docketing.

NRA-L-000416 image 2 showing the first page of a handwritten French commercial letter dated in New York. — **Image 2**First page of a French commercial letter dated in New York.

NRA-L-000416 image 3 showing the continuation of a handwritten French letter discussing American trade and wartime conditions. — **Image 3**Continuation of the French letter discussing American trade and wartime conditions.

NRA-L-000416 image 4 showing the closing and signature of a handwritten French letter, with sealing remnants and a later billing note. — **Image 4**Closing and signature of the French letter, with sealing remnants and a later billing note.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000416
Date: 1862-02-18
Original date: New York, 18 Feby 1862
Type: Commercial correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Frank Otard
Recipient: Otard Dupuy & Co
Places: New York / Cognac / New York–Cognac
Extent: 4 documentary sides: Address panel; Letter text page 2; Letter text page 3; Letter text page 4; 4 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000416.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Via England pr Str "America"

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co.
Cognac
Charente
France

Address panel

English translation

Via England per Steamer "America"

Messrs. Otard Dupuy & Co.
Cognac
Charente
France

Letter text page 2

Original transcript

New York, 18 Feby 1862

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co.
Cognac

Je vous confirme, Messieurs, ma lettre du
4 fevrier et ai reçu depuis lors votre lettre du 22 Janvier.
Vous trouverez ci inclus une 1ere de Change s'élevant à:
Fcs 5.910.00 sur Messrs Schall & Co., cette somme provient
de Messrs Patterson & Boulton, je vous remets aussi
125.- sur Mr Hy Plumejeau de votre ville.
Fcs 6.065.- Ensemble dont veuillez me crediter.

Je ne vous ai pas écrit la semaine dernière, car j'avais
été à Washington, et comme les affaires sont complètement
nulles je me trouve parfois sans avoir aucune nouvelle
à vous annoncer. En Amérique, le commerce est
complètement mort et je ne sais trop quand tout cela
reviendra, vous avez l'air assez nerveux au sujet d'un

Letter text page 2

English translation

New York, 18 Feby 1862

Messrs. Otard Dupuy & Co.
Cognac

I confirm to you, Gentlemen, my letter of the
4 February and have received since then your letter of the 22 January.
You will find enclosed a 1st of Exchange amounting to:
Fcs 5,910.00 on Messrs. Schall & Co., this sum comes
from Messrs. Patterson & Boulton, I also remit to you
125.- on Mr. Hy Plumejeau of your city.
Fcs 6,065.- Together with which please credit me.

I did not write to you last week, because I had
been to Washington, and as business is completely
dead I sometimes find myself without any news
to announce to you. In America, commerce is
completely dead and I do not know too well when all this
will return, you seem quite nervous on the subject of a

Letter text page 3

Original transcript

navire qui serait parti de Bordeaux avec quelques eaux de vie
de Cognac. Mr Castillon m'a dit cette semaine, qu'il n'y
en avait pas pour son compte, dès lors je conclus que
les eaux de vie ont été envoyées comme consignation
en prévision de baisse sur votre marché. Je ne sais si
le résultat sera avantageux, tout dépendra de l'état
de ce pays; les dernières nouvelles survenues sont si
différentes de l'inertie à laquelle on s'habituait qu'il est
probable que la guerre intestine entre le Nord et le Sud ne
peut pas durer longtemps; le gouvernement fédéral vient
de remporter des victoires importantes et on a pris près de
20.000 prisonniers; la lutte pourra durer quelques mois
mais il est évident que le Sud commence à se décourager
et la sécession n'est plus qu'une mauvaise plaisanterie.
Je vous remets ci inclus duplicata de l'ordre de
Messrs Kellogg & Co., veuillez je vous prie m'envoyer le
connaissement à "Ordre", car nous sommes à une époque
difficile à juger et les événements se contrarient tellement
qu'il est bien difficile de dire ce qui arrivera d'ici
quelques mois.

Letter text page 3

English translation

vessel which would have left Bordeaux with some brandies
from Cognac. Mr. Castillon told me this week, that there
were none for his account, therefore I conclude that
the brandies were sent as a consignment
in anticipation of a drop on your market. I do not know if
the result will be advantageous, everything will depend on the state
of this country; the latest news that has occurred is so
different from the inertia to which one was getting accustomed that it is
probable that the internal war between the North and the South
cannot last a long time; the federal government has just
won important victories and nearly
20,000 prisoners have been taken; the struggle could last a few months
but it is evident that the South is beginning to get discouraged
and secession is no more than a bad joke.
I remit to you enclosed duplicate of the order of
Messrs. Kellogg & Co., please I pray you send me the
bill of lading to "Order", because we are at a time
difficult to judge and events contradict each other so much
that it is very difficult to say what will happen from here
in a few months.

Letter text page 4

Original transcript

Je viens de voir Roger qui se rend à la Havanne et
compte faire un voyage de quelques mois et sera sans
doute en Europe au commencement de Mai.

Agréez, Messieurs, l'assurance de mon entier dévouement
Frank Otard

Copy.
New York, 4th February 1862
Messrs J. P. Kellogg & Co.

J.P.K & Co. 10 Qrs. and 20 Eighths 1861 Pale Brandy

Bill of Lading to "order". To be shipped by first vessel to N.Y.

Letter text page 4

English translation

I have just seen Roger who is going to Havana and
intends to make a trip of a few months and will doubtless
be in Europe at the beginning of May.

Accept, Gentlemen, the assurance of my entire devotion
Frank Otard

Copy.
New York, 4th February 1862
Messrs. J. P. Kellogg & Co.

J.P.K & Co. 10 Qrs. and 20 Eighths 1861 Pale Brandy

Bill of Lading to "order". To be shipped by first vessel to N.Y.

Discovery Terms

Cognac trade
Otard Dupuy & Co
American Civil War
Bills of exchange
Brandy orders
J. P. Kellogg & Co
New York
Cognac
United States

Transcriptions and English translations are provided as working scholarly aids, not as replacements for the images of the original documents. Some readings may remain uncertain, especially where handwriting, spelling, damage, abbreviations, names or places are difficult.

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