Letter from J. L. Martell to Poulet père & fils, 1836-04-11
J. L. Martell discusses his financial difficulties, a proposed thirty-percent dividend to creditors, wine valuation, and the personal and commercial relationship with Poulet père & fils.
Commercial correspondence
French
J. L. Martell
Poulet père & fils
Paris
Beaune
Paris–Beaune
Cognac trade
Martell
Creditors
Dividend
Wine valuation
France — domestic trade
Paris 11 Avril 1836.
[[label: Address panel]] Messieurs Poulet Pere & fils Beaune Côte D'or.
[[label: Letter text, first page]] Paris 11 Avril 1836. Votre voyageur Mr. Chambose est venu le 6 Ct. me remettre Mon cher Monsieur la lettre de V/ Maison du 9 Mars repondant à celle que je vous avais adressée le 9 Fevr. & 1er. Mars recapitulant tout ce qui s'etait passé entre nous depuis l'epoque de mes difficultes, qui loin de presenter l'amelioration desirée dans ma position n'offre qu'un capital en marchandises suffisant à peine pour etablir le dividende de 30 p% dont je vous ai parlé dans ma dernier & que vous vous refusez de recevoir, malgré l'acquiescement presque general de tous mes Créanciers à cet arrangement. Pour convaincus de mes malheurs & de la droiture & de la loyauté de mes procedes n'ont pas hesités un moment à y souscrire - J'espere donc, Mon cher Monsieur Auguste, qu'en ressouvenance de nos anciens rapports d'amitié & de l'importance des affaires que nous avons traittées ensemble, & dans lesquelles j'ai été bien malheureux en dernier lieu ainsi que vous le savez, vous voudrez bien vous joindre aussi à eux & accepter ce dividende comme je vous l'ai detaillé par ma dern. Tous les vins qui le composent sont excellents & parfaitement choisis. - Vous pouvez vous reposer sur mon palais - J'en aurais moi même
[[label: Letter text, continuation]] rendu juge votre voyageur, si je l'avais cru competent dans cette expertise mais au dedain avec lequel il traitta ma proposition la taxant de Gachis j'avais pensé que cet intermediaire eut les connaissances necessaires pour qu'on rapportat à la degustation. Je vous prie donc, Mon cher Monsieur, de m'epargner l'humiliation de discuter à l'avenir avec Mr. Chambose des interets qui lui sont étrangers & de renfermer cette discussion entre nous. Rappellez vous aussi que vous m'avez promis de m'indemniser sur une partie de Volnay que vous me vendites en 1829 & sur laquelle je perdis 70 p% & que sur ceux qui font l'objet de n/ discussion presente, je perdrai vraisemblablement l'entier Capital - Cette réclamation est basée sur la justice vous ne pouvez donc y être sourd & j'espere aussi que vous preterez une oreille favorable à celle de la vieille amitié & de l'ancien attachement qui a uni nos deux maisons depuis si longtems. Faite, Mon cher Monsieur Auguste, que je puisse être bientot à même de reprendre les affaires & de m'efforcer par mon travail & par les secours que j'espere trouver chez mes amis, de regagner ce que j'ai perdu Vous ne voudrez pas en consideration de toutes ces raisons vous refusez à m'entendre & dans l'espoir d'une reponse prompte & favorable, je vous renouvelle ici Mon
[[label: Letter text and closing]] cher Monsieur, l'assurance bien Cordiale de mes Civilités affectueuses Votre tout dévoué J L Martell
[[label: Address panel]] Messrs. Poulet Father & sons Beaune Côte D'or.
[[label: Letter text, first page]] Paris 11 April 1836. Your traveler Mr. Chambose came on the 6th of this month to deliver to me, my dear Sir, the letter from your House of 9 March replying to the one that I had addressed to you on 9 Feb. & 1 March recapitulating everything that had happened between us since the time of my difficulties, which far from presenting the desired improvement in my position offers only a capital in merchandise barely sufficient to establish the dividend of 30 percent of which I spoke to you in my last & which you refuse to receive, despite the almost general acquiescence of all my Creditors to this arrangement. To convince of my misfortunes & of the uprightness & loyalty of my proceedings have not hesitated a moment to subscribe to it - I hope therefore, my dear Monsieur Auguste, that in remembrance of our old relations of friendship & of the importance of the business that we have transacted together, & in which I have been very unfortunate lately as you know, you will be willing to join them also & accept this dividend as I detailed it to you by my last. All the wines that compose it are excellent & perfectly chosen. - You can rely on my palate - I would have myself
[[label: Letter text, continuation]] made your traveler the judge, if I had believed him competent in this appraisal but at the disdain with which he treated my proposal taxing it as a Mess I had thought that this intermediary had the necessary knowledge for one to refer to the tasting. I pray you therefore, my dear Sir, to spare me the humiliation of discussing in the future with Mr. Chambose interests which are foreign to him & to confine this discussion between us. Remember also that you promised to indemnify me on a lot of Volnay that you sold me in 1829 & on which I lost 70 percent & that on those which are the object of our present discussion, I will lose in all likelihood the entire Capital - This claim is based on justice you cannot therefore be deaf to it & I hope also that you will lend a favorable ear to that of the old friendship & of the old attachment which has united our two houses for so long. Act, my dear Monsieur Auguste, so that I may soon be able to resume business & to strive by my work & by the help that I hope to find among my friends, to regain what I have lost You will not want in consideration of all these reasons to refuse to hear me & in the hope of a prompt & favorable reply, I renew to you here my
[[label: Letter text and closing]] dear Sir, the very Cordial assurance of my affectionate Civilities Your entirely devoted J L Martell
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Every complete capture, documentary role, address panel, date, names, commercial evidence and postal evidence was directly checked against the authoritative images; unresolved readings remain explicitly marked. Date evidence: Dateline on P002; Paris and Beaune postal marks on P001 and P004. Origin evidence: Dateline on P002 and Paris postal evidence.
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4 documentary sides: Address panel and postal evidence; Letter text, first page; Letter text, continuation; Letter text, closing and postal evidence; 4 digital images.