Letter from Frank Otard to Otard... (1863)

NRA-L-000471 / 1863

Letter from Frank Otard to Otard Dupuy & Co concerning Canadian case sales, a draft for Barsalou and US monetary policy, 1863-02-03

Frank Otard reports sending about 550 remaining cases to Gillespie in Montreal, remits a draft for Victor Barsalou and discusses exchange, paper money, banking proposals and the danger that inflation will obstruct imports from Europe.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000471

NRA-L-000471 image 1 showing the address panel to Otard Dupuy & Co in Cognac with postal evidence. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000471 image 2 showing handwritten commercial letter text, page 1. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000471 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-000471
Date: 1863-02-03
Original date: New York 3 Fevrier 1863
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; redistribution to Montreal
Extent: 3 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; Documentary page 3; 3 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000471.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
Charente
France.

Address panel

English translation

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
Charente
France.

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

New York 3 Fevrier 1863

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac

Je vous confirme, Messieurs, ma lettre du 27 Janvier
et ai reçu depuis votre amicale du 15 ditto, ainsi que Mon
Compte et, que j'ai trouvé correct après examen; la seule
remarque que je ferai seulement, est que la somme de f 4938.88
produit de la vente des caisses expédiées pour votre maison, est
complètement à votre disposition, le change étant si élevé je n'ai pas osé
vous acheter des francs pour ce montant, mais je me tiens complètement
à votre disposition à ce sujet, le change est onéreux, mais le sera t'il
longtemps? C'est une question difficile à résoudre et je ne tiens nullement
à en avoir la responsabilité, par suite de la variation du change

Je vais envoyer environ 550 caisses qui me restent encore à vendre pour
mon compte à Messrs Gillespie de Montréal, en les priant de vous
en faire les remises, au fur et à mesure que les ventes s'effectueront.
Evidemment le commerce de caisses n'a pas cours dans ce pays.

Documentary page 2

English translation

New York 3 February 1863

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac

I confirm to you, Gentlemen, my letter of 27 January and have received since your friendly one of the 15th ditto, as well as My Account and, which I found correct after examination; the only remark I will make merely, is that the sum of f 4938.88 proceeds of the sale of the cases shipped for your house, is completely at your disposal, the exchange being so high I did not dare buy francs for you for this amount, but I hold myself completely at your disposal on this subject, the exchange is onerous, but will it be so for a long time? It is a difficult question to resolve and I do not wish in any way to have the responsibility for it, as a result of the variation of the exchange

I am going to send about 550 cases which I still have left to sell for my account to Messrs Gillespie of Montreal, asking them to make the remittances to you, as and when the sales are made. Evidently the trade in cases is not current in this country.

Documentary page 3

Original transcript

Je m'empresse de vous remettre une traite à 10 jours de vue
p 5.000.- pour le compte de notre ami Barsalou et dont veuillez
me créditer.

Nous sommes toujours sur le qui vive au sujet du nouveau
projet de Finances, les uns veulent une plus grande émission de
papiers monnaie, les autres veulent adopter un nouveau projet
d'associations de banque, somme toute il ne se fait rien, mais
comme le Congrès sera dissous d'ici le 4 mars, il est probable que
toutes les questions qui agitent le pays seront résolues d'une manière
ou d'une autre. L'emprunt n'est plus possible, il n'y a donc que
la circulation de papier monnaie qui ait chance de réussite; cette
mesure aura pour effet de rendre les rapports entre l'Europe et
l'Amérique de moins en moins possible, attendu que l'importation
deviendra une impossibilité.

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

Documentary page 3

English translation

I hasten to remit to you a draft at 10 days sight for 5,000.- for the account of our friend Barsalou and with which please credit me.

We are still on the alert on the subject of the new Finance project, some want a greater emission of paper money, others want to adopt a new project of bank associations, all in all nothing is being done, but as Congress will be dissolved between now and 4 March, it is probable that all the questions which agitate the country will be resolved in one way or another. The loan is no longer possible, there is therefore only the circulation of paper money which has a chance of success; this measure will have the effect of making relations between Europe and America less and less possible, given that importation will become an impossibility.

Accept, Messrs the assurance of my entire devotion
Frank Otard

Discovery Terms

Cognac trade
Commercial correspondence
Brandy cases
Montreal
Drafts
Victor Barsalou
Exchange rates
Paper money
Banking
Imports
New York
Otard Dupuy & Co
Frank Otard
United States

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