The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-05-28 00:00:00

TRADE WITH FRANCE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
SIR,—It is not our province to take part in public
discussions upon questions of political economy ' • but we
are compelled, in self-defence, to refer to the letter of
" Publius," in the Times of this day, on the subject of
" Trade with France," which is made the medium of an
unwarrantable attack upon us.
" Publius" is, no doubt, an interested party, who, un-
der the shelter of an anonymous signature, would fain
serve himself and other holders of French brandy. To do
this he adopts two means—argument, if his writing can be
so called, tending tw'a reduction of the duty on French
brandy, and therebylto enhance the value of that article
in bond ; and abuse, applied to British produce, with a
view to creating a greater demand for the foreign. He,
and those interested with him, or whose feelings he is en-
gaged to represent, may justly feel alarm at " the conti-
nually declining quantity of French brandy which pays
duty for consumption, in the face of a constantly increas-
ing population ;" and, having little regard for truth or
consistency, it is not to be wondered at that, in the spirit
of unscrupulous advocacy, he should assign any but the
real cause for such decreasing consumption; or that he
should attempt to put down successful competition, which
is the real cause, by vulgar abuse. Indeed, so reckless is
he, that not satisfied with an onslaught upon British dis-
tillers, he even assails the whole medical and chemical
professions.
The simple truth is, that the constantly increasing de-
mand for our Patent Brandy has made an important in-
road upon the trade in foreign brandy; and that this,
with the adoption of our Patent Metallic Capsules, as an
effectual security to the public against the fraudulent sub-
stitution of inferior spirits, has occasioned the utmost
uneasiness in those who deal in foreign brandy.
That " Publius" is what we have described him to be,
there cannot be a doubt. He asks for a reduction in the
duty on French brandy, not for the benefit of the consu-
mers who will, at any price, indulge their taste for " the
finest Cognac; but for the purpose of effecting " a conci-
liation of the most powerful agricultural interest" of
France. Generous Cosmopolite ! He is eager to sacri-
fice every native interest (except that of th holders of
French brandy) at the shrine of foreign prosperity. What
to him the grain of England in competition with the
grapes of France ? If there be sorrow in our farmsteads,
will there not be joy in the vineyards abroad ?
Although our firm is not mentioned by name, yet, as
our Patent brandy is the produce of British grain—as the
trade description of it comes within the scope of " high-
sounding
titles"—and as its healthfulness and genuine
purity are borne out by the " testimony of scientific
men," it is barely possible to suppose that " Publius" did
not intend, and deliberately perpetrate, a personal attack
upon us ; or that the passage referred to has not been
more or less applied to us by your readers, and the public
generally, many of whom are unpossessed of the absolute
merits of the case.
We maintain, Sir, and we have the most incontroverti-
ble evidence of the fact, that our Patent Brandy, distilled
from British grain, is a purer and more wholesome spirit
than Cognac or other French Brandy. This has been
ascertained by the most careful analysis, made by Chemi-
cal Professors whose names rank with the most eminent
in the world—by " scientific men," who were unquestion-
ably paid, not any agreed sum, as is basely insinuated by
" Publius," for the purpose of influencing their opinions
respectively, but according to the charge made by them,
for the time and professional skill bestowed upon the in-
quiry, as a physician, a barrister, or any other gentleman,
would be paid for first-rate professional services. That
the opinion of such a person as " Publius" would conform
with that of any purchaser, at a given price, we have no
reason to doubt. On the contrary, we believe him to be
a commodity for any market—at present disposable by the
holders of Foreign Brandy.
But " the gall and wormwood" to " Publius" is, that
the genuine and decided testimonials in our favour have
had their natural effect upon our sale. They have led to
the use of our Patent Brandy by an immense number of
private consumers, among whom the greatest men of the
day might be named ; and to its being prescribed, daily,
in preference to French Brandy, by the highest medical
authorities at Guy's, St. George's, and the Westminster
Hospitals ; at the Manchester, Bristol, and Brighton In-
firmaries ; and, in short, at all the principal hospitals and
public institutions in England.
Free from the acid inseparable from French brandy,
and from its astringent nature, we challenge competition
at home and abroad ; and whilst we thus tear away the
mask from " Publius," controvert his statements, and
repudiate his conclusions, we say at once that fear of
competition does not for a moment influence us in writing
this letter. The fashion for the use of French brandy is
rapidly passing away. British science and British enter-
prise have succeeded in raising the produce of British
Grain far in intrinsic value above that of foreign grapes ;
and however much the duty on foreign spirits may be re-
duced, we are confident that such a reduction will not
prevent the continued increase of demand for our patent
brandy.
We are, Sir,
Your most obedient Servants,
J. T. BETTS, Jun. and Co.
7, Smithfield Bars, London.

WINE FININGS.—An article of a new and certainly
useful character for fining wine is advertised in our paper
of to-day; and so truly efficacious is it that one bottle is
sufficient to rectify a hogshead of liquor, and the price
does not exceed ss. per gallon. It is applicable to either
port or sherry, and is warranted to keep any length of
time.
STEAM TO THE LAKES.—We are glad to find that the
favourite steamer, Windermere, has again commenced
plying between this port and Ulverstone. She has been
fitted with new boilers, condensers, &e., and the whole of
her hull has been thoroughly overhauled and repaired ;
the cabin too has been redecorated, and no exerti.n has
been spared to secure the comfort of those who may
during the insuing summer visit the picturesque and
beautiful scenery of Cumberland and Westmorland. It
is calculated that under all ordinary circum,tances, the
passage to Ulverstone will be made in about 3 hours.