Letter from E. Caylus de Ruyter & Co... (1857)

NRA-L-000461 / 1857

Letter from E. Caylus de Ruyter & Co to Otard Dupuy & Co concerning weak brandy demand and the western credit crisis, 1857-06-08

E. Caylus de Ruyter & Co report a quiet brandy market and explain delayed payments and weak demand through the financial distress of western customers and speculation in land, adding current exchange quotations.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000461

NRA-L-000461 image 1 showing the address panel to Otard Dupuy & Co in Cognac with postal evidence. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000461 image 2 showing handwritten commercial letter text, page 1. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000461 image 3 showing handwritten commercial letter text, page 2, with the conclusion and signature. — **Image 3**Letter text - Page 2, with conclusion and signature.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000461
Date: 1857-06-08
Original date: New York 8 Juin 1857
Type: Commercial correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: E. Caylus de Ruyter & Co
Recipient: Otard Dupuy & Co
Places: New York, New York, United States / Cognac, Charente, France / New York–Cognac via the steamer Arabia
Extent: 3 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; Documentary page 3; 3 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000461.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

p Arabia
Messieurs
Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
France
Charente

Address panel

English translation

per Arabia
Messrs
Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
France
Charente

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

p Arabia
New York 8 Juin 1857
Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
N/ vs accusons reception, Messieurs, de v/
honorée du 19 mai, & vs remercions des renseignements
qu'elle nous donne.
Nous regrettons que les circonstances ne nous
aient pas encouragés à vs donner des ordres; mais nous
avons toujours trouvé depuis un an, par suite de la
hausse continue, à acheter sur place plus au dessous de
vos cours. Ainsi nous avons pu il y a trois semaines
acheter encore de vos 1855 p $5.50 ce qui vs le voyez
est fort au dessous de la parité chez vous.
Notre grande hausse empêchera que ns ressentions
beaucoup ici les bons effets que la réduction du tarif
aurait eu en d'autres circonstances, aussi ne partageons
nous pas l'opinion que les affaires en liquides soient
brillantes après le 1er juillet.
D'ailleurs nous n'attribuons pas au changt
prochain du tarif toute la langueur des affaires; car les
marchses mêmes qui ne seront pas affectées par ce
changement sont aussi calmes que les autres. La vraie
cause de l'inaction c'est la mauvaise situation
financière de l'Ouest, n/ grand consommateur. Les
spéculations en terrains depuis plusieurs années ont
absorbé les revenus de tout le monde; les gens les

Documentary page 2

English translation

per Arabia
New York 8 June 1857
Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
We acknowledge receipt, Gentlemen, of your
esteemed letter of May 19, and thank you for the information
that it gives us.
We regret that circumstances have not
encouraged us to give you orders; but we
have always found for a year, as a result of the
continuous rise, to buy locally more below
your prices. Thus we were able three weeks ago
to still buy some of your 1855 for $5.50 which as you see
is well below parity with you.
Our great rise will prevent us from feeling
much here the good effects that the tariff reduction
would have had in other circumstances, so we do not share
the opinion that business in liquids will be
brilliant after July 1st.
Besides, we do not attribute to the upcoming change
in the tariff all the sluggishness of business; for the
very goods that will not be affected by this
change are as calm as the others. The true
cause of the inaction is the bad financial
situation of the West, our great consumer. The
speculations in land for several years have
absorbed everyone's income; the people the

Documentary page 3

Original transcript

moins riches y ont enfoui le capital qui devait
servir à leurs affaires, de là une grande gêne, retards de
paiements aux maisons de l'Atlantique, lesquelles sont
peu désireuses de faire de nouveaux crédits, & conséquemment
n'achètent pas ou peu.
Nous croyons que telle est la véritable cause
du mauvais état des affaires, & nous ne pensons
pas voir après le 1er juillet les prodiges d'activité
auxquels on s'attend trop généralement.
Nous ne voudrions pas que vs prissiez la gêne
de nous écrire, surtout dans un moment où nous
ne voyons pas jour à vs donner des ordres; mais nous
vous serions fort obligés si vs vouliez bien ns adresser
régulièrement v/ circulaire soit directement, soit par
l'entremise de Messrs Ch. Thomas Montague & Co de
Bordeaux.
Chge sur Paris 5.17 1/2
Londres 9 1/2
agréez n/ salutations Empressées
E. Caylus de Ruyter & Co

Documentary page 3

English translation

least rich have buried there the capital that was to
serve their business, hence a great difficulty, delays in
payments to the houses of the Atlantic, which are
little desirous of giving new credits, and consequently
buy not or little.
We believe that such is the true cause
of the bad state of business, and we do not think
we will see after July 1st the prodigies of activity
that are too generally expected.
We would not want you to take the trouble
to write to us, especially at a time when we
do not see our way to giving you orders; but we
would be very obliged if you would kindly send us
regularly your circular either directly, or through
the intermediary of Messrs Ch. Thomas Montague & Co of
Bordeaux.
Exchange on Paris 5.17 1/2
London 9 1/2
accept our eager greetings
E. Caylus de Ruyter & Co

Discovery Terms

Cognac trade
Commercial correspondence
Brandy demand
Credit crisis
Land speculation
Delayed payments
Exchange rates
New York
Otard Dupuy & Co
E. Caylus de Ruyter & Co
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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