SIR,—I did not see the letter from Mr. T. A.
Layton regarding Napoleon Brandy, but that from Mr. Raymond Postgate has depressed me no end. Some twelve months ago a number of papers carried stories about 1811 Napoleon Brandy and one even sug- gested that there were only a handful of bottles in existence—price, £1,000 a bottle.
Imagine, therefore, my pleasure when during a visit home my father dived into a dark cupboard and emerged flourishing a bottle of the goods— bought it for a fiver in Paris over thirty years ago, held on to it ever since.
It looked all right. '1811,' said the seal over the cork. '1811,' said the glass seal on the neck. '1811,' said the label. Flog it, said I. Split the thou. four ways, yourself, mother, big brother and me. Strange how fathers never seem to take any notice of financial advice offered to them, free, by their sons. He continues to hold on to it and sometimes allows friends to view it. My father-in-law has been allowed to touch it, but then he is almost one of the family.
I still dream that one day the old chap might relent and I see myself counting out (never trust a relative) 250 crisp little quidlets. And now along comes Mr. Postgate—undrinkable, says he—and bang goes my dream. What am I offered for an antique bottle 151 years old, believed to have con- tained an expensive brand of vinegar?
37 Grove Park, Knatsford, Cheshire
R. E. TATLOW
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