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

NRA-L-000457 / 1862

Letter from Frank Otard to Otard Dupuy & Co concerning brandy sales, payments, invoices and wartime finance, 1862-04-15

Frank Otard discusses sales and expected payment for several vintages of brandy, the Cadiz account and an invoice to Boardman, while commenting on wartime finance and current American politics.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000457

NRA-L-000457 image 1 showing the address panel to Otard Dupuy & Co in Cognac with postal evidence. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000457 image 2 showing handwritten commercial letter text, page 1. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000457 image 3 showing handwritten commercial letter text, page 2. — **Image 3**Letter text - Page 2.

NRA-L-000457 image 4 showing the handwritten conclusion, signature and reverse-side evidence. — **Image 4**Letter conclusion, signature and reverse-side evidence.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000457
Date: 1862-04-15
Original date: Newyork, 15 April 1862
Type: Commercial correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Frank Otard
Recipient: Otard Dupuy & Co
Places: New York, New York, United States / Cognac, Charente, France / New York–Cognac via England
Extent: 4 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; Documentary page 3; Documentary page 4; 4 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000457.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Via England pr St. "Niagara"

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
Charente
France.

Address panel

English translation

Via England pr St. "Niagara"

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
Charente
France.

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

Newyork, 15 April 1862

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac

Je vous Confirme, Messieurs, ma lettre du 8 ct qui
s'est Croisée avec votre amicale du 27 Mars.
Nous trouverez ci inclus un aperçu des Caisses en main par
l'Ityac et par le Cadiz. au sujet de l'Ityac, j'ai été
assez heureux pour en vendre 300 Caisses à Messrs Maitland
Tyler & Co Montréal à raison de $ 5.75 la Caisse, moins les frais
d'arrivée, ce qui établira la vente à environ 27 francs la Caisse,
la vente est à 6 mois, je lui en ai envoyé 200 Caisses de plus
en Consignation, en tout 500 Caisses 1859. j'en ai encore 500
Caisses ici et Cette maison me fixera d'ici quinze jours sur
la facilité de la vente au Canada et s'il y a de l'espoir,
je lui enverrai le reste, dans le Cas Contraire il vaudrait
mieux que je tache de vous le marché sur lequel je devrai
expédier la balance, Car Ce serait peut-être ruineux d'attendre
la fin de la guerre actuelle à Ce Sujet.
Au Sujet du Cadiz j'ai en main dans vos 1860, 1851, 42,
36, 20, 1800, je n'ai placé que vos 1859 & 1856 à Mr Salter

Documentary page 2

English translation

New York, 15 April 1862

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac

I confirm to you, Gentlemen, my letter of the 8th inst. which crossed with your friendly one of 27 March.
You will find enclosed an overview of the Cases on hand by the Ityac and by the Cadiz. regarding the Ityac, I was fortunate enough to sell 300 Cases to Messrs Maitland Tyler & Co Montreal at the rate of $5.75 per Case, less the arrival costs, which will establish the sale at about 27 francs per Case, the sale is at 6 months, I sent him 200 more Cases on Consignment, in all 500 Cases 1859. I still have 500 Cases here and This house will fix me within a fortnight on the facility of the sale in Canada and if there is hope, I will send him the rest, in the Contrary Case it would be better that I try to you the market on which I will have to ship the balance, For It would perhaps be ruinous to wait for the end of the current war on This Subject.
On the Subject of the Cadiz I have on hand in your 1860, 1851, 42, 36, 20, 1800, I have only placed your 1859 & 1856 with Mr Salter

Documentary page 3

Original transcript

Je Crois que le paiement ne se fera pas attendre long temps
mais je ne veux plus risquer l'essai à l'avenir; il est un
fait bien Certain, C'est que si je n'avais pas vendu à Ce Monsieur
j'aurai encore la marchandise, vous ne pouvez pas vous faire
à l'idée de la répugnance que Chacun éprouve au sujet de
Ce genre d'industrie et il vaut mieux Cesser de peur de se faire des Ennemis.
toutes les maisons qui en ont importé, les ont en main, et il sera
difficile de les écouler à moins de faire 50 % de perte.
Au Sujet de Patterson & Bouthon, ils viennent de regler
Completement et je reglerai avec vous d'ici la fin de mai,
on parle d'élever le tarif, au prix où nous en sommes il n'y a
pas de mal mais si la paix se faisait en juillet, l'union ne se
reconstituerait jamais sans un Changement de tarif plus
avantageux aux interets de l'amerique entière. - somme toute
pour faire rentrer le sud dans l'union, on lui accordera après la
défaite plus qu'on ne dit C'est sera plutot regardé Comme
moyen de Conciliation et Comme but politique que Comme
question financière. C'est un drole de pays.
Mon Cousin m'est revenu de la Havanne sans argent, je lui
avais donné de l'argent pour son retour, mais il a laissé des
dettes Criardes que j'ai été sans son Consentement obligé de

Documentary page 3

English translation

I Believe that the payment will not be long in coming but I no longer want to risk the attempt in the future; it is a very Certain fact, It is that if I had not sold to This Gentleman I would still have the merchandise, you cannot get used to the idea of the repugnance that Everyone feels on the subject of This kind of industry and it is better to Stop for fear of making Enemies.
all the houses that have imported it, have them on hand, and it will be difficult to dispose of them unless making a 50% loss.
On the Subject of Patterson & Bouthon, they have just settled Completely and I will settle with you by the end of May, there is talk of raising the tariff, at the price where we are there is no harm but if peace were made in July, the union would never reconstitute itself without a Change of tariff more advantageous to the interests of the whole of america. - all in all to bring the south back into the union, it will be granted after the defeat more than is said It will be rather regarded As a means of Conciliation and As a political goal than As a financial question. It is a funny country.
My Cousin has returned to me from Havana without money, I had given him money for his return, but he left glaring debts that I was without his Consent obliged to

Documentary page 4

Original transcript

payer, il s'arrangera avec son père, Ce genre n'aurait
pas été bien vu dans Ce pays; la somme s'élève à $ 683.48 à f 5.10
Fcs 3.485.75 dont veuillez Créditer mon Compte, valeur de
Ce jour.
Agréez, Messrs l'assurance de mon entier devouement
Frank Otard

P.S. Il faut deduire également des Caisses par le Cadiz la
facture vendue à Boardman

Documentary page 4

English translation

pay, he will arrange with his father, This kind would not have been well seen in This country; the sum amounts to $ 683.48 at f 5.10
Fcs 3,485.75 which please Credit to my Account, value of This day.
Accept, Messrs the assurance of my entire devotion
Frank Otard

P.S. It is also necessary to deduct from the Cases by the Cadiz the invoice sold to Boardman

Discovery Terms

Cognac trade
Commercial correspondence
Brandy sales
Vintages
Invoices
Payments
American Civil War
Finance
New York
Otard Dupuy & Co
Frank Otard
United States

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