The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-02


scroll We viewed the scene In st. Martins summer
day, when mellow blue haze sofened down tho rough
sn ~ ,ao ana apurapce mos, esarmna and
rare The distant points were obscured but about
US the historic hills Of 81 Croix vine covered and castle
crowned and below the lovely valley, With the broad,
rapid flowing river with village and chateau held aud
wood cleaned in the golden light Of the with de-
ghu ndistinctness which added 70 the beauty OF tho
scene Our gaze comprehended all the choicest white
wine vineyards Of France-ltlo fields lying on sunny
slopes-each producing wine celebrated tho world round
On the following day took carriages to tho Chateau
Torcas in the enyrons OF Langdon where excellent sau
terne wine is Produced and went through the cellars and
tasted Of the wine The vineyard 10 small but the issue
has great reputation in France Afterwards We rodcto
Verdeais, celebrated the Continent the scene Of
some wonderful and miraculous OF crppes In times
gone by. With Mr. Dayisson, our Consul, number Of
officers visited the immense wine cellars of Barton
Custer, the best in bordeaux The entire process OF
bottling and packing was shown US, and then we went
through the vaults where arc two hundred and 1ty
thousand bottles Of wine and eight thousand barrels Of the
red and white varieties of the choicest description Unfor
tunately very little Of the best vino now goes to tho
United States The stuff sent is generally Of the vilest
Sss and Ssu' Of sSsf9n made q 1s
water, tho poorest vin ordisdire unnt to drink
and favored with an article called Essence
bouquet TO five barrels of wine The vino about
ten cents boste TO manufacture including the profit
which IL not small Within week past one house in
New York has sent order hero for hundred thou
sand Of wine of various brands for which they pro-
posed to pay tive francs per case Tho house do
cned to undertake to supply wine Of that character as
1t had reputation established The cost of Dotng and
packing VINE, including the filling and corkng Of the
bottles, placing upon them the proper capsules and
labels preparing them for Shipment Is about four
francs thus leaving franc only per case for the mix
tuie which the enterpnsng and high toned New York
house proposes TO supply the people Of the United States
Although the firm referred 10 declined TO fill the order
the agents Of the New York house have found m that
Will undertake the job, and supply the labels of all the
choicest brands OF white and red wines of France
Bes des this vile stuff which is sent from here to food
the American market and poison the American people,
large quantity Of oils Of Medoc essences OF Sauerne and
stui OF that KIND by which choice old wines manulac
ured In New York. are also shipped They cost ten francs
per bottle each bottle havors from three to five barrels
OF the mixture, which, when nicely bottled and labelled
passes among those unaccustomed to good wine as the
verabe article Bordeaux Is full of wine swnder About
fifteen houses the city respectable and reliable aud
the balance Of fifteen hundred more guilty OF tho
most shameful receptions and swndles regret to say
that they look the United States the great market
for their vile compounds, and Is equally as disagree
able to state that they are not disappointed in their ex
pectatons; and, while the subject may well say
that the article of brandy sent from the Cognac and
Rochelle districts is equally as vile and impure
II is unpleasant TO be compelled 70 dsabuse the minds
OF people OF the common impression that because
wines and brandes are imported from France they
pure 1t is not Not one-htticth part Of the wines
sent from Bordeaux what they purpor to be- and but
small portion OF the brandy Is pure They have all the
external brands and marks OF genuine articles but the
articles themselves are bad and unit for USE of course
great deal Of good wine goes to the United States but
am afraid 1t is not generally consumed The trade VI
Bordeaux has immensely revived since the close of our
Heavy orders daily received and large
Der OF ships bearing the American flag again in port
Before closing this letter wish to say something
Antwerp Rochcfort and Bordeaux-the Office has been
filed by foreigners most Of them unable to speak Eng
lish. Some Of them are very nice men, bu> they do
not gain the respect OF the authorities people Then
the pay Is much too small to enable the consus
tain the social position they should TO give them weight
with the authorities and people, unless they draw
their TO live In the style agent of the
United States expected to maintain Out OF their mis-
cradle picayune salary they must portion OF their
rent and also their clerks, and sustain the dignity Of
their household besides consular agent must enter
tam TO extent he would have influence. and that
f hnur, ulff ha MS
tons TO official dinners 0r indeed priya.e entertainments
he must return the dinners and exhaust his resources
II will probably be said that II the present ncumoents
do not to retain their positions there are enough
~ home who will accept them This may be very
true but Is ridiculous argument Something besides
handsome income needed to all the post Consul Of the
United States abroad We lind the class OF people who have
money and brains travelling Europe now; but
American citizen with any regard for our reputation
abroad would care 10 have such specimens Of citizens
portion Of the world Men a brains are wanted and they
worth anything they ought 70 be paid The laborer
Is worthy Of his hire Our Consul here Mr.. Davsson,
il we'll known - an old Western editor and ariend Of
the late President Through the war he has labored
steadily and hard 10 defeat the Vaccinations Of the
He prevented the sailing Of two iron built hero
for the rebels, and induced the government to seize
them until their ownership was changed. The amount
Of labor and the terrible anxiety and responsibility Of
consul in place like Bordeaux during the war 10 little
appreciated outside Of the state Department
The Frolic, with Admiral Goldsborough, l0aycs to-
morrow for Ferrol and Lisbon. II Is reported that the
cholera has appeared In the latter place. rf SO, the
fleet will at proceed to Ferrol to await the abate
mcnt Of the epidemic The Frolic will merely touch
Ferro and If the fleet is there II will join; otherwise
goes directly TO Lisbon. All on board the frolic ~