Letter and order from Frank Otard to... (1867)

NRA-L-000474 / 1867

Letter and order from Frank Otard to Otard Dupuy & Co concerning tariffs, the Maine Law and Ives Beecher & Co, 1867-08-20

Frank Otard discusses a poor harvest, high US tariffs, the Maine Law and smuggling from Canada, then sends a forty-fifths order from Ives Beecher & Co with vintage, colour, cask and shipping specifications.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000474

NRA-L-000474 image 1 showing the address panel to Otard Dupuy & Co in Cognac with postal evidence. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000474 image 2 showing handwritten commercial letter text, page 1. — **Image 2**Letter text - Page 1.

NRA-L-000474 image 3 showing handwritten commercial letter text, page 2, with the conclusion and signature. — **Image 3**Letter text - Page 2, with conclusion and signature.

NRA-L-000474 image 4 showing an enclosed handwritten specifications and quantity schedule. — **Image 4**Enclosed specifications and quantity schedule.

NRA-L-000474 image 5 showing the reverse of the enclosed specifications sheet with visible ink transfer and physical evidence. — **Image 5**Reverse of the enclosed specifications sheet.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000474
Date: 1867-08-20
Original date: Newyork, 20 Aout 1867
Type: Commercial correspondence
Language: French / fr / English / en
Sender: Frank Otard
Recipient: Otard Dupuy & Co
Places: New York, New York, United States / Cognac, Charente, France / New York–Cognac; Canadian market
Extent: 5 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; Documentary page 3; Documentary page 4; Documentary page 5; 5 digital images.
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000474.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

per St "Russia"

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
Charente
France

Address panel

English translation

per Steamer "Russia"

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac
Charente
France

Documentary page 2

Original transcript

Newyork, 20 Aout 1867

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac

J'ai recu Messieurs votre lettre du 1 aout
et vous confirme la mienne du 13 ditto.
Je regrette d'apprendre que le resultat de la recolte sera
aussi minime que vous semblez le craindre, et que
par contre vos prix s'en ressentiront; les ordres ne
seront pas enormes attendu que le commerce est fort calme
par suite du tarif elevé qui nous ronge pour le moment.
Il est difficile de dire le temps que durera ce haut droits mais
aussi longtemps que le systeme actuel douanier subsistera
aussi longtemps les affaires s'en ressentiront. Nous avons le
Maine Law dans quelques etats et c'est la raison qui nous
empeche d'avoir des ordres de Boston et d'un autre coté
les eaux de vie que vous vendez au Canada sont souvent

Documentary page 2

English translation

New York, 20 August 1867

Messrs Otard Dupuy & Co
Cognac

I have received, Gentlemen, your letter of 1 August
and confirm mine of the 13th ditto.
I regret to learn that the result of the harvest will be
as minimal as you seem to fear, and that
on the other hand your prices will feel the effects; orders will
not be enormous given that business is very quiet
as a result of the high tariff that is eating away at us for the moment.
It is difficult to say how long these high duties will last but
as long as the current customs system remains
so long will business feel the effects. We have the
Maine Law in some states and that is the reason that
prevents us from having orders from Boston and on the other hand
the brandies that you sell to Canada are often

Documentary page 3

Original transcript

smuggled through the lines. Vous pourrez etre assurés que
nos amis vous donneront des ordres, mais pour cela il faut
une nouvelle administration qui changera le systeme
prohibitif en systeme plus liberal et plus en rapport
avec les besoins de l'epoque.
Messrs Ives Beecher & Co m'ont remis un petit ordre de:
1850 P. 5/5
I B. Co 1856 " 5/5
no 1/40 1858 " 10/5
1860 " 5/5
'64 " 5/5
'65 " 10/5
ensemble 40/5 de vos eaux de vie pr 1er premier envoie.
les quarts ne doivent pas contenir
moins de 16 veltes autrement ils seraient
sujets a etre saisis (les 1850 seulement en Double fut).
Messrs Patterson & Boulton en presence de l'etat du marché ne
desirent pas envoyer un nouvel ordre pour le present. J'ai
prevenu nos amis au sujet de la recolte et j'ai ecrit de
tous les cotés; ma prochaine vous renseignera davantage.
Agréez, Messieurs, l'assurance de mon entier devouement.
Frank Otard

Documentary page 3

English translation

smuggled through the lines. You can be assured that
our friends will give you orders, but for that we need
a new administration that will change the prohibitive
system into a more liberal system and more in keeping
with the needs of the time.
Messrs Ives Beecher & Co have given me a small order for:
1850 P. 5/5
I B. Co 1856 " 5/5
no 1/40 1858 " 10/5
1860 " 5/5
'64 " 5/5
'65 " 10/5
together 40/5 of your brandies for 1st first shipment.
the quarters must not contain
less than 16 veltes otherwise they would be
subject to being seized (the 1850 only in Double cask).
Messrs Patterson & Boulton in view of the state of the market do not
wish to send a new order for the present. I have
warned our friends about the harvest and I have written on
all sides; my next will inform you further.
Accept, Gentlemen, the assurance of my entire devotion.
Frank Otard

Documentary page 4

Original transcript

No. 125.
Messrs Ives Beecher & Co. N.Y. 20th August 1867.

I. B & C
No 1 a 40

5 fifths Pale 1850 - double casks -
5 " " 1856
10 " " 1858
5 " " 1860
5 " " 1864
10 " " 1865
40 fifths.

} usual proof.

To be shipped by first vessel - B/L. to "their address."

Documentary page 4

English translation

No. 125.
Messrs Ives Beecher & Co. N.Y. 20th August 1867.

I. B & C
No 1 to 40

5 fifths Pale 1850 - double casks -
5 " " 1856
10 " " 1858
5 " " 1860
5 " " 1864
10 " " 1865
40 fifths.

} usual proof.

To be shipped by first vessel - B/L. to "their address."

Documentary page 5

Original transcript

[Blank reverse of the enclosure; no intentional writing.]

Notes

Editorial notes:
Only show-through from the written side is visible; no separate text is transcribed.

Documentary page 5

English translation

[Blank reverse of the enclosure; no intentional writing.]

Notes

Editorial notes:
Only show-through from the written side is visible; no separate text is transcribed.

Discovery Terms

Cognac trade
Commercial correspondence
Brandy order
Tariffs
Maine Law
Smuggling
Canada
Harvest
Ives Beecher & Co
Patterson & Boulton
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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