Letter from A. Leveau to Otard Dupuy & Co (1852)

NRA-L-000417 / 1852

Letter from A. Leveau to Otard Dupuy & Co, 1852-11-30

A. Leveau reports orders from West, Hall, Smith of Brighton and Harvey & Son of Lewes, discusses prices and recovered accounts, and describes competition with Martell for British customers including Wickens of Oxford.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000417

NRA-L-000417 image 1 showing a folded address panel to Otard Dupuy & Co in Cognac, with postal marks and manuscript routing docketing. — **Image 1**Address panel to Otard Dupuy & Co in Cognac, with postal marks and routing docketing.

NRA-L-000417 image 2 showing the first page of a handwritten English commercial letter with accounts, firm names and dated entries. — **Image 2**First page of an English commercial letter with accounts, firm names and dated entries.

NRA-L-000417 image 3 showing the continuation and closing signature of a handwritten English commercial letter. — **Image 3**Continuation and closing signature of the English commercial letter.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000417
Date: 1852-11-30
Original date: Novr 30/52
Type: Commercial correspondence
Language: English / en
Sender: A. Leveau
Recipient: Otard Dupuy & Co
Places: London / Cognac / London–Cognac
Extent: 3 documentary sides: Address panel; Letter text page 2; Letter text page 3; 3 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000417.

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Transcript and readable English text

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
France
"Charente"

Address panel

Readable English text

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
France
"Charente"

Letter text page 2

Original transcript

Novr 30/52
Messrs West, Hall, Smith - Brighton
6 Hhds 1850 ________________ 6/5
7 Hhds 1846 ________________ 8/3
7 Hhds 1836
free on board at Charente not to
be ship'd yet. Mr Smith will write
me when to ship them

Messrs Harvey & Son - Lewes
Bill 3 Mos
6 Pun 1850s ________________ 5/11
free on board at Charente free of chgs
untill April or May 1853

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
Dear Sirs
I was in due receipt
yesterday of yrs dated 29th Ult. have left
Town untill to morrow when I return to
Town again. I have the pleasure to hand
you another restored a/c in that of Harvey
& Son, who has been buying of late Yrs
from Martell. It is true I have again
made a mistake in price of 57 for 58 -
It was hunting the nail at proper
opportunity that elated me & thus caused
a error. Gabriel was with me. & very

Letter text page 2

Readable English text

Novr 30/52
Messrs West, Hall, Smith - Brighton
6 Hhds 1850 ________________ 6/5
7 Hhds 1846 ________________ 8/3
7 Hhds 1836
free on board at Charente not to
be ship'd yet. Mr Smith will write
me when to ship them

Messrs Harvey & Son - Lewes
Bill 3 Mos
6 Pun 1850s ________________ 5/11
free on board at Charente free of chgs
untill April or May 1853

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
Dear Sirs
I was in due receipt
yesterday of yrs dated 29th Ult. have left
Town untill to morrow when I return to
Town again. I have the pleasure to hand
you another restored a/c in that of Harvey
& Son, who has been buying of late Yrs
from Martell. It is true I have again
made a mistake in price of 57 for 58 -
It was hunting the nail at proper
opportunity that elated me & thus caused
a error. Gabriel was with me. & very

Letter text page 3

Original transcript

pleased he was. You perceive we
are fast getting back the old accts
I now await your reply as to circular
& rest assured my plan will succeed
& play the devil with M. & Co. if
I can have such prices as will shut
them out hereafter - the great point
for you to do is to secure stock but not
at high quotations, if it was possible
to ruin, & then they have over sold
themselves much in 1851. what a beau
tiful run you could now give them
by freeing up prices. The Company
has not bought out any circular
yet I depend on it they are waiting to see
what you do. I have to meet Wickens of
Oxford on Monday in reference to Hhds. he
will take 12 to 10 Hhds. of different Vintages
but Reeling has offerd. one lower than
yr shipping price. so I must see what is
to be done. for they shall not get Wickens
back again if I can help it. I have informed
Gabriel of yr wishes previous to my leaving
Town Believe me Dear Sirs
Very faithfully Yrs
A. Leveau

The export trade from London is enormous

Letter text page 3

Readable English text

pleased he was. You perceive we
are fast getting back the old accts
I now await your reply as to circular
& rest assured my plan will succeed
& play the devil with M. & Co. if
I can have such prices as will shut
them out hereafter - the great point
for you to do is to secure stock but not
at high quotations, if it was possible
to ruin, & then they have over sold
themselves much in 1851. what a beau
tiful run you could now give them
by freeing up prices. The Company
has not bought out any circular
yet I depend on it they are waiting to see
what you do. I have to meet Wickens of
Oxford on Monday in reference to Hhds. he
will take 12 to 10 Hhds. of different Vintages
but Reeling has offerd. one lower than
yr shipping price. so I must see what is
to be done. for they shall not get Wickens
back again if I can help it. I have informed
Gabriel of yr wishes previous to my leaving
Town Believe me Dear Sirs
Very faithfully Yrs
A. Leveau

The export trade from London is enormous

Discovery Terms

Cognac trade
Otard Dupuy & Co
British market
Brandy orders
Commercial competition
Martell
London
Cognac
Britain

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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