Wine, the vine and the cellar / [Thomas George Shaw].

  • Shaw, Thomas George.
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Wine, the vine and the cellar / [Thomas George Shaw]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    to nearly one hundred and thirty millions sterhng; while the revenue from wine has kept below two millions sterhng for the last fifty years. Surely this is a sufficient proof of a wretched, languid trade ; and it is melancholy to hear old wine merchants talking over their personal recollections of numerous firms, once of excellent standing, now broken down and vanished. A few have been successful, through in- dustry and knowledge of the trade ; but even these qualities could seldom have enabled them to make money, had they not also possessed considerable capital, or the means of borrowing it when wanted. Without such advantages, it is generally a desperate afiair to go into the wine trade ; and I fear I am expressing nearly the truth, when declaring my behef that, if all who deal in wine were to be called upon to pay whatever they owe in business and otherwise, more than a half would be found insolvent. This is a bold assertion; but it is not made without having asked the opinion of men who well know the realities on which it is grounded. It would be enter- * ing too much into details to show how certainly any- one becoming a wine merchant in the private trade, with small capital, or whose business improves and increases, and consequently absorbs more and more money, must place himself under obligations to one or more of the shipping, or botthng houses. This is a dangerous and unfortunate position for him, although there may be a few firms which will conscientiously discourage his increasing his