Letter from Frank Otard to Otard... (1862)

NRA-L-000418 / 1862

Letter from Frank Otard to Otard Dupuy & Co, 1862-06-27

Frank Otard sends a bill of exchange connected with J. P. Kellogg, then discusses the American Civil War, Richmond, the Gulf and cotton states, the French intervention in Mexico and possible Anglo-French mediation in the United States.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000418

NRA-L-000418 image 1 showing the first page of a handwritten French commercial letter dated in New York and addressed to Otard Dupuy & Co. — **Image 1**First page of a French commercial letter dated in New York and addressed to Otard Dupuy & Co.

NRA-L-000418 image 2 showing the continuation and closing signature of a handwritten French commercial letter. — **Image 2**Continuation and closing signature of the French commercial letter.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000418
Date: 1862-06-27
Original date: New York 27 Juin 1862
Type: Commercial correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Frank Otard
Recipient: Otard Dupuy & Co
Places: New York / Cognac / New York–Cognac
Extent: 2 documentary sides: Letter text page 1; Letter text page 2; 2 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000418.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Letter text page 1

Original transcript

New York 27 Juin 1862

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac

Je vous confirme, Messieurs, ma lettre du 24 Ct
qui s'est croisée avec votre amicale du 10 ditto.
J'aurais attendu jusqu'à Mardi prochain à vous écrire sans
la hausse subite qui a eu pour le change et qui a haté Mr
P. Kellogg à vous faire sa remise pour les haux de vin que vous
lui avez envoyés.
Je vous remets dans ce pli une 1ere de change s'élevant à
Fcs 8.000.00 à 7/s/ sur Messrs F. S. Ballin & Co Paris, dont veuillez
me créditer.
Les affaires politiques sont toujours à l'ordre du jour et
on s'attend tous les jours à une grande bataille devant Richmond.
La prise de cette ville décidera du sort de la Virginie et des Border
Estates, je m'attends à une résistance très vive, peut-être même
à un siège d'un mois, mais le résultat ne me semble pas douteux

Letter text page 1

English translation

New York June 27, 1862

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac

I confirm to you, Gentlemen, my letter of the 24th inst.
which crossed with your friendly one of the 10th ditto.
I would have waited until next Tuesday to write to you but for
the sudden rise that has taken place in the exchange and which has hastened Mr
P. Kellogg to make his remittance to you for the hogsheads of wine that you
sent him.
I enclose in this cover a 1st of exchange amounting to
Fcs 8,000.00 at 7/s/ on Messrs F. S. Ballin & Co Paris, for which please
credit me.
Political affairs are still the order of the day and
a great battle is expected every day before Richmond.
The capture of this city will decide the fate of Virginia and the Border
States, I expect a very strong resistance, perhaps even
a siege of a month, but the result does not seem doubtful to me

Letter text page 2

Original transcript

La lutte deviendra circonscrite dans les Etats du Golfe et les
chaleurs de Juillet et d'Août pourront mettre un temps d'arrêt à
la guerre, mais aussitôt que le mois de Septembre arrivera, les armées
fédérales pénétreront dans les Etats à Coton et il faudra donc alors
se battre et se rendre bon gré mal gré. L'Angleterre qui a
poussé la France dans cette vilaine affaire du Mexique, semble
engager vivement l'empereur des Français à offrir sa médiation
aux Etats Unis et l'engage à intervenir, mais j'espère que la superbe
Albion si elle tient à s'immiscer dans les affaires de ce pays, sera
d'aller de l'avant et elle verra ce qui lui en coute; une intervention
étrangère de quelque nom que vous l'appelliez, n'aura d'autre but
que de donner un nouveau stimulant à la guerre et serait
une calamité pour l'Europe et l'Amérique.

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

Letter text page 2

English translation

The struggle will become confined to the Gulf States and the
heat of July and August may put a stop to
the war, but as soon as the month of September arrives, the
federal armies will penetrate into the Cotton States and it will then be necessary
to fight and surrender willy-nilly. England, which has
pushed France into this ugly Mexican affair, seems
to strongly urge the Emperor of the French to offer his mediation
to the United States and urges him to intervene, but I hope that proud
Albion, if she insists on interfering in the affairs of this country, will be
to go ahead and she will see what it costs her; a foreign intervention
by whatever name you call it, will have no other purpose
than to give a new stimulus to the war and would be
a calamity for Europe and America.

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

Discovery Terms

Cognac trade
Otard Dupuy & Co
American Civil War
Bills of exchange
Richmond campaign
French intervention in Mexico
New York
Cognac
United States

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