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

NRA-L-000473 / 1862

Letter from Frank Otard to Otard Dupuy & Co concerning low prices, case sales in Boston and Civil War developments, 1862-04-22

Frank Otard stresses the need for low prices, reports sending case samples to Boston and the failure of this form of shipment, then comments on Corinth, Yorktown, Richmond and the prospects of ending the Civil War.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000473

NRA-L-000473 image 1 showing the address panel to Otard Dupuy & Co in Cognac with postal evidence. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000473 image 2 showing handwritten commercial letter text, page 1. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000473 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-000473
Date: 1862-04-22
Original date: Newyork, 22 Avril 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; samples to Boston
Extent: 3 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; Documentary page 3; 3 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000473.

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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

Newyork, 22 Avril 1862

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac

Je vous confirme, Messieurs, ma lettre du 15 ct
qui s'est croisée avec votre amicale du 19 3 ct; je vois
que le temps est fort beau et que les vignes s'annoncent
sous de belles apparences, je fais des vœux bien vrais pour
l'avenir de notre pays vignicole, il faut en effet des
prix bas et même très bas pour pouvoir arriver à faire
des affaires dans l'état où nous devons nous attendre à une
abstention complète d'entreprises commerciales. Tous les
renseignements que vous me donnerez à ce sujet seront
toujours bien appréciés et venant de votre maison, ils
ont une valeur qui en augmente le prix.
Je viens d'envoyer des échantillons à Boston à Boardman,
à Foster & Taylor & à Williams, je les ai engagés vivement
à prendre ce que j'ai de caisses en main et j'espère beaucoup
que cette fois j'arriverai à un bon résultat, il ne reste pas

Documentary page 2

English translation

New York, 22 April 1862

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac

I confirm to you, Gentlemen, my letter of the 15th inst.
which crossed with your friendly one of the 19th of the 3rd month; I see
that the weather is very fine and that the vines are showing
beautiful appearances, I make very true wishes for
the future of our wine-growing country, it is indeed necessary to have
low prices and even very low prices to be able to manage to do
business in the state where we must expect a
complete abstention from commercial enterprises. All the
information that you will give me on this subject will
always be well appreciated and coming from your house, they
have a value which increases their price.
I have just sent samples to Boston to Boardman,
to Foster & Taylor & to Williams, I strongly urged them
to take what I have in cases on hand and I hope very much
that this time I will arrive at a good result, there does not remain

Documentary page 3

Original transcript

vendu une seule caisse et à l'avenir il faut complètement
renoncer à ce genre d'expédition. Les maisons sur lesquelles
nous devrions le plus compter, sont justement celles qui
nous font le plus de tort à ce sujet.
En fait d'affaires politiques, nous allions assez vite dans la
voie des succès, mais nous voilà arrêtés devant Corinthe
d'un côté & Yorktown de l'autre; ces deux sièges seront
encore assez longs, mais c'est le commencement de la fin.
On s'est beaucoup occupé cette semaine de la visite de notre
Ambassadeur à Richemond; les uns y ont vu une question
de tabac, mais je crois que le Ministre de France doit y
être envoyé pour des questions plus graves que celles d'une
affaire de tabac, et je ne serai pas étonné qu'il engageât
Jefferson Davis à abandonner la partie dans le cas de la
chute de Yorktown et de Richemond. Ces conseils seront-ils
écoutés? je ne le crois pas, car ce ne sera qu'après une marche
régulière et un succès complet que le gouvernement de
Washington pourra reconquérir et pacifier le Sud.
Qui vivra verra.
Agréez, Messieurs, l'assurance de mon entier dévouement
Frank B Otard

Notes

Editorial notes:
The documented terminal form Frank B. Otard is retained while the correspondent remains linked to the single Frank Otard authority.

Documentary page 3

English translation

a single case sold and in the future we must completely
give up this kind of shipment. The houses on which
we should count the most, are exactly those which
do us the most harm in this regard.
In terms of political affairs, we were going quite fast on the
path of success, but here we are stopped before Corinth
on one side & Yorktown on the other; these two sieges will be
quite long still, but it is the beginning of the end.
There has been much concern this week about the visit of our
Ambassador to Richmond; some saw in it a question
of tobacco, but I believe that the Minister of France must be
sent there for more serious questions than those of a
tobacco affair, and I will not be surprised if he urged
Jefferson Davis to give up the game in the event of the
fall of Yorktown and Richmond. Will these advices be
listened to? I do not believe so, for it will only be after a regular march
and a complete success that the government of
Washington will be able to reconquer and pacify the South.
Time will tell.
Accept, Gentlemen, the assurance of my entire devotion
Frank B Otard

Notes

Editorial notes:
The documented terminal form Frank B. Otard is retained while the correspondent remains linked to the single Frank Otard authority.

Discovery Terms

Cognac trade
Commercial correspondence
Brandy prices
Case sales
Boston
American Civil War
Corinth
Yorktown
Richmond
New York
Otard Dupuy & Co
Frank Otard
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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