Letter from Rivière frères to Hennessy & Saule, 1777-10-12
A letter from La Tremblade to Hennessy & Saule reporting the 1777 grape harvest, wine prospects, scarcity and demand, remaining 4/8 eau-de-vie and the price of boiler salt.
Commercial correspondence
French
Rivière frères
Hennessy & Saule
La Tremblade
Cognac
La Tremblade–Cognac
Cognac trade
Grape harvest
Wine
Eau-de-vie
Prices
Salt
Hennessy
France — domestic trade
Messieurs Hennessy & Saule a Cognac.
[[label: Address panel]] A Messieurs Messieurs Hennessy & Saule à Cognac
[[label: Documentary page 2]] Messieurs Hennessy & Saule a Cognac. LaTremblade 12.e 8.bre 1777. Messieurs Rep. 25 Nous avons l'honneur de vous informer que nous avons commencé les Vendanges: elle promettent moitié moins de vin que l'année derniere, mais il sera beaucoup meilleur. Il n'y a encore point de prix en cette denrée, quy sera très demandée icy, a cause de la petite quantité qu'il y a ailleurs, & principalement en Bretagne, ou les foires ont manqué. Il ne nous reste que quelques Pieces d'eaudevie de 4/8, dont on offre 200.ll sans vendeurs: on en fera gueres l'an prochain. La fourniture a été un peu plus forte que la precedente: le sel de chaudiere est a 750.ll les 28/ Muids, a quitté. Nous avons l'honneur d'etre bien sincerement Messieurs vos très humbles & obeissans serviteurs Riviere freres
[[label: Address panel]] To Messrs. Messrs. Hennessy & Saule in Cognac
[[label: Documentary page 2]] Messrs. Hennessy & Saule in Cognac. La Tremblade, 12 October 1777. Replied the 25th. Gentlemen, We have the honour to inform you that we have begun the grape harvest. It promises half as much wine as last year, but it will be much better. There is not yet any price for this commodity, which will be in great demand here because of the small quantity available elsewhere, principally in Brittany, where the fairs have failed. We have only a few pieces of 4/8 eau-de-vie left, for which 200 livres are offered without sellers; hardly any will be made next year. The supply was a little greater than the previous one; boiler salt is at 750 livres for 28 muids, duty paid. We have the honour to be very sincerely, Gentlemen, your very humble and obedient servants, Rivière frères.
Original item in Neruda Archives.
Private collection, Neruda Archives.
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Neruda Archives
Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000391.
Both complete captures, La Tremblade dateline, Hennessy & Saule recipient, quantities, commercial wording, sealing evidence and date were directly image-checked. Date evidence: Dateline on P002; 8bre is the historical abbreviation for October. Origin evidence: Dateline on P002 and docket on P001.
Image-checked raw transcription
Image-checked English translation
Exact
2 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; 2 digital images.