The War Against the Ruskins

In 1815, old Sir James Duff died in Cadiz and left his sherry business to his kinsman, Sir William Duff Gordon, who promptly (and rather improperly) approached Ruskin and asked him to sell Duff Gordon sherries as well as those of Haurie. More improperly still, Ruskin consented, but he realized that such a state of affairs could not last, and he soon gave up Sir William, \"as I could not well keep both.\"

Gordon Murphy & Co. retained the agency, and their eventual failure in 1820 severely embarrassed their Spanish house. Fortunately, however, it was strong enough to weather the storm and it soon achieved the high position which it eventually occupied. In the meantime, it had also built up a considerable business with Sandeman, a reliable connection that greatly hel­ped matters.

A letter from Duff Gordon\'s Spanish bodegas, dated June 12, 1818 suggests that Ruskin was no longer very popular:

\"Your antagonists Ruskins are cunning hands and Juan Carlos (Haurie) is wholly led by them. They of course, pursue the system most profitable to themselves, and care but little for the real interest and credit of their employers. They have tricked Granstone and John Gordon, and fairly cut them out of several orders from Leith and London in defiance of Haurie\'s solemn pledge to act in concord regarding the new prices.

\"The object Ruskins have had in view is evidently to persuade the trade that they can ship as low and as high as Gordon in the first and last qualities for which but few orders are generally sent. But in the intermediate numbers they are about £3 cheaper than their neighbors. Let us resolutely follow up our own plan in a fair and open way, and ship Super wines at such prices as may yield us a competent profit for our labor and risk, leaving them to enjoy and benefit if they can such pitiful maneuvers, which may turn out much against them in the end.\"

Gordon Murphy & Co. retained the agency, and their eventual failure in 1820 severely embarrassed their Spanish house. Fortunately, however, it was strong enough to weather the storm and it soon achieved the high position which it eventually occupied.