[COGNAC]: T.L.S. in the name of Louis de Salignac & Co., one page, 4to, Cognac, 6th March 1909, to Mr. F. N. Kapyrin, on the printed stationery of Louis de Salignac & Co., in French. The letter commences by expressing surprise on learning from Mr. E. Schroeder, the company?s representative in Moscow, that Kapyrin is refusing to accept delivery of five casks of brandy, remarking ?Nous sommes d?autant plus surpris de ce refus de votre part que cet Ordre avait ?t? r?guli?rement enregistr? par notre Agent et d?ment ex?cut? par nous aux conditions stipul?es dans le bulletin de commande. D?autre part nous ne comprenons pas que vous ayez attendu aussi longtemps pour prendre une d?cision, alors que vous aviez notre facture entre les mains depuis pr?s de 4 mois? (Translation: ?We are all the more surprised by this refusal on your part given that this order had been duly recorded by our agent and properly fulfilled by us in accordance with the terms set out in the order form. Furthermore, we fail to understand why you have waited so long to reach a decision, given that you have had our invoice in your possession for nearly four months?) and further adding ?A aucune condition ne voulons reprendre ces marchandises qui vous ont ?t? exp?di?es conform?ment ? une commande tr?s r?guli?re de votre part. Nous vous informons en cons?quence que notre traite de Fcs: 5784,90 vous sera pr?sent?e ? ?ch?ance, c?est-? dire le 28 Avril prochain. Nous comptons que vous voudrez bien y r?server bon accueil; faute de quoi nous nous verrions forc?s de vous poursuivre en justice pour obtenir le r?glement de notre cr?ance. Nous voulons esp?rer que vous ne nous contraindrez pas ? cette mesure extr?me....? (Translation: ?Under no circumstances are we prepared to take back these goods, which were dispatched to you in accordance with a perfectly valid order on your part. We therefore inform you that our bill of exchange for Fcs: 5,784.90 will be presented to you on the due date, namely 28 April. We trust that you will honour this; otherwise, we shall be forced to take legal action against you to recover our debt. We hope that you will not compel us to take this extreme measure.....?). VG

Louis de Salignac was a French Cognac merchant and producer who, from 1864 until 1897?98, headed the Soci?t? des Propri?taires Vinicoles de Cognac, an important association of local vineyard owners founded by his family in 1838. Following his departure from the Soci?t?, which subsequently developed into the Cognac house of J.-G. Monnet, Salignac established his own firm, Louis de Salignac & Cie; in 1906 he acquired extensive premises and ageing cellars in the rue des Cordeliers at Cognac.