Two letters from E. Stevens Sons to Otard Dupuy & Co concerning brandy imports, duties, insurance and a bill of exchange, 1847-04-30 and 1847-05-31
E. Stevens Sons report arrivals and condition of cognac cargoes, weak demand, temperance, warehouse insurance and customs duties, then update market conditions and transmit a sterling bill of exchange through Liverpool.
New York, 30th April 1847; May 31st 1847
Commercial correspondence
English
E. Stevens Sons
Otard Dupuy & Co
New York, New York, United States
Cognac, Charente, France
New York–Cognac via Boston and Liverpool
Cognac trade
Brandy imports
Customs duties
Warehouse insurance
Temperance movement
Bills of exchange
Liverpool
New York
United States
pr 1st pr "Cambria" via England.
[[label: Address panel]] pr Steamer "Britannia", via L'pool Messrs. Otard Dupuy & Co. Cognac France via Boston [[notes]] Editorial notes: The route notation reads via L'pool (Liverpool), not 'Spool'. The item contains separately dated sections of 30 April and 31 May 1847.
[[label: Documentary page 2]] pr 1st pr "Cambria" via England. New York, 30th April 1847 Messrs. Otard Dupuy & Co. Cognac Gentlemen, Since the preceding we have been in receipt of your esteemed favor of the 28th Ulto, covering shipping papers for Brandies, & your a/c Curt. to the end of the year: this document has been found correct and entered in conformity. We note that there was a doubt as to the exact number of casks on board the "Frances Lord" now in; she will be discharged in a few days when it will be ascertained. The "Alabama" & "Gazelle" have also arrived: the Brandy by the first has been recd. in good order - the latter vessel is now discharging. The simultaneous arrival of several vessels with Brandies has rendered sales difficult, and the demand for your & other Cognac Brandies, quite contrary to our expectations, is unusually small for the season; - the temperance feeling undoubtedly naturally checks the consumption of all spirituous liquors, and in some of the States the dealing in them has been almost entirely abandoned. Unfortunately the risk of Fire Insurance on goods stored in the public Warehouses being at onerous rates, & other objections are so great as to compel Importers to enter everything for consumption thereby adding to the loss of interest & losing the chance of sales for Export - indeed thus far we have been unable to obtain insurance on goods in the principal Warehouse. - Besides these embarassments the Duties, by a recent order from Washington, are paid on the full Invoice Cost, except in cases where the casks show extra leakage from damage or accident on board the vessel. - The export of Breadstuffs is temporarily suspended from the want
[[label: Documentary page 3]] want of them here; - the canals will however soon be opened when considerable supplies from the interior may be looked for, tho' not sufficient to fill the unusual large Tonnage in port. - this cessation of exports, together with the large arrivals of specie has advanced Foreign Exchanges 2 @ 4 % - we think they will again somewhat decline, especially francs, when we shall reimburse you for your last Invoices. We are Gentlemen, Very Truly, Your Obt Servts Francs 5.35 pr Dollar Sterling 6 1/2 @ 7 %. May 31st 1847 Gentlemen, We confirm the preceding and since hold your esteemed favors of the 15 & 28 Ulto, contents of which have had the requisite attention, and the items for our respec- tive accounts been passed in accordance. The Brandies by the "Frances Lord" turned out according to your Invoice. - This article has continued in limited demand since we last wrote, and prices of all descrip- tions have given way, both on account of the increase of stocks & the expectation of lower prices in France, already advised as having taken place at Bordeaux &c. - In the expectation that sterling will yield something better than Francs, we forward by this conveyance, and per steamer "Washington" hence, to Messrs. Baring Brothers Co Liverpool, for procural of acceptance, the 1st & 2d of the enclosed Bill (the 3d) for £ stg 1,000, as at foot. - We ask said Gentlemen to advise you of its acceptance, & to retain the Bills for the holder of the third, or
[[label: Documentary page 4]] as you may request. We are Gentlemen, Respy. Your Obt. Servts. E Stevens Sons Bill Enclosed 3d. Exch. on a/c a/c: N/Orleans May 19th, No. 256, £1,000 stg. bot/st non J.W. Robb & Co on Laughtry & Co Liverpool payable in London, endorsed to by W.A. Cavenagh and Nevins Townsend & Co to p/res, & by us in blank.
Original item in Neruda Archives.
Private collection, Neruda Archives.
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Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000459.
Every complete capture, documentary role, address panel, date, names, organizations, commercial context and material postal evidence was independently checked against the authoritative images and related Cognac correspondence; unresolved readings remain explicit. Date evidence: The first section is dated New York, 30 April 1847; a second section on the same documentary item is separately dated 31 May 1847. Origin evidence: New York is written in the dateline.
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4 documentary sides: Documentary page 1; Documentary page 2; Documentary page 3; Documentary page 4; 4 digital images.