Autograph Letter Signed, Boston, June 5, 1862, to Louis Roederer, Reims, France, Discussing Wine Shipments, Bad Corks – and the Economic Effects of the Civil War

Quarto, two pages, plus stamp less address leaf, in very good, clean, legible condition.

The letter also transmits a copy of an earlier letter from this Boston firm dated May 23, 1862, which discusses wine, or I should say Sillery Champagne shipments, Sillery is a Grand Cru region in Montagne de Reims. Williams complains about losses due to poor corks, the cover letter relates news of the Civil War, particularly its economic effects.

"Boston May 23, 1862

Mr. Louis Roederer,

Dear Sir,

We wrote to you on the 8th inst, eclosing an order for fifteen hundred packages of wine by the first vessel direct for Boston, after the wine was ready. We now wish you to add to that order for Messrs Edward Codman & Co.

100 cases whole bottles L R Dry Sillery and

25 do half bottles do do

We would like to call your attention to the corks. We have suffered considerably by leakage from imperfect corks. When a bottle looses a little in this way, it is returned to us, and amounts to almost an entire loss. We have now the pleasure of enclosing to you the account of sales of the fourteen hundred packages received by the ship Exchange, and neting ten thousand nine hundred and ninety five 21/100 dollars, which sum $ 10,995.21, we have placed to the credit of your account. If there is any error, we shall be happy to correct it …"

"Boston June 5th, 1862

Mr. Louis Roederer,

Reims, France,

Dear Sir,

We enclose the copy of our letter of the 23d ultimo, to which we ask your kind attention.

Politically, the Federals are fast gaining the ascendancy, and we hope that the old Union may be restored in the course of the present year. This part of the country has not suffered much from the rebellion. The manufacturing establishments have prospered, Commerce and the fisheries have scarcely been injured at all., and so bountiful have been the crops in the free states, that bread stuffs and other provisions are very cheap, and in the greatest abundance, notwithstanding the waste attending the support of a large navy and an army of about 600,000 men. Money is at a very low rate of interest worth only from 4 to 6 per cent per annm. The Government Loan of about 300,000,000 dollars has all been taken by our own people, and the 6 per cent stock 20 years to run which was taken about three months ago at 89,30, now sells at 106, per hundred dollars … Jno D. & M. Williams"

Louis Roederer (1809-1870) need little introduction, the firm is a producer of champagne based in Reims, France. Founded in 1776, the business was inherited and renamed by Louis Roederer in 1833, It remains as one of the few family-run producers of champagne. Initially founded as Dubois Pere & Fils in 1776, Louis Roederer inherited the company from his uncle in 1833, he renamed it, after himself, and set out to target markets abroad, as seen in this letter. He concentrated efforts in several countries including Russia. Tsar Nicholas II nominated Louis Roederer as the official wine supplier to the Imperial Russian Court.