From Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 1 June 1807
June 1. 1807.
Th:J. to mr Gallatin
I gave you some time ago a project of a more equal tariff on wines than that which now exists. but in that I yielded considerably to the faulty classification of them in our law. I have now formed one with attention, and according to the best information I possess, classing them more rigorously. I am persuaded that were the duty on cheap wines put on the same ratio with the dear, it would wonderfully enlarge the field of those who use wine to the expulsion of whiskey. the introduction of a very cheap wine (St. George) into my neighborhood within two years passed has quadrupled in that time the number of those who keep wine, and will ere long increase them tenfold. this would be a great gain to the treasury, & to the sobriety of our country. I will here add my tariff, wherein you will be able to chuse any rate of duty you please; and to decide whether it will not on a fit occasion be proper for legislative attention. Affectte. salutns.
| cost per gallon | 15 per cent | 20 per cent | 25 per cent being the average of present duties | 30 per cent | 35 per cent | |
| Tokay, Cape, Malmesey, Hock | 4.00 | .60 | .80 | 1.00 | 1.20 | 1.40 |
| Champagne, Burgundy, *Claret, Hermitage | 2.75 | .41¼ | .55 | .88⅔ | .82½ | .96¼ |
| London particular Madeira | 2.20 | .33 | .44 | .55 | .66 | .77 |
| All other Madeira | 1.80 | .27 | .36 | .45 | .54 | .63 |
| Pacharetti, Sherry | 1.50 | .22½ | .30 | .37½ | .45 | .52½ |
| + Grave, Palus, Coterotie, Condrieu, Moselle | 1.25 | .18¾ | .25 | .31¼ | .37½ | .43¾ |
| St. Lucar, all other wines of Spain & all of Portugal | .80 | .12 | .16 | .20 | .24 | .28 |
| Sicily, Teneriffe, Fayal, Malaga, St. George & other Western islands | .67 | .10 | .13 | .16¾ | .20 | .23 |
| All other wines |
*The term claret should be abolished because unknown in the country where it is made, & because indefinite here. The 4. crops should be enumerated here instead of claret, and all other wines to which that appellation has been applied should fall into the ad valorem class.
+ this includes Barsac, Sauterne, Beaurne & Preignac
| present duty & per cent | ||||||
| per cent | ||||||
| Tokay | .45 | which is | 11¼ | |||
| Malmsey | .58 | 14½ | ||||
| Hock | .35 | 25 | ||||
| Champ. | } | .45 | 16½ | |||
| Burgy. | ||||||
| Hermitage | } | .35 | 12½ | |||
| Claret | ||||||
| .58 | 26½ | |||||
| .50 | 27½ | |||||
| Pacharetti | .23 | 15 | ||||
| Sherry | .40 | 26½ | ||||
| .35 | 28 | |||||
| St. Lucar | .40 | 50 | ||||
| Other Span. | .23 | 28¾ | ||||
| Sicily | .23 | 34 | ||||
| Teneriffe &c | .28 | 41 | ||||
| in bottles | .35 | } | often 400 per cent | |||
| in cask | .23 | |||||
| present classification & duties | cents | ||
| per gall. | |||
| 1. | Malmesey, Madeira, Lond. particulr. | .58 | |
| 2. | all other Madeira | .50 | |
| 3. | Burgundy, Champagne, Rhenish, Tokay | .45 | |
| 4. | Sherry & St. Lucar | .40 | |
| 5. | Claret & all not enumeratd. in bottles | .35 | |
| 6. | Lisbon, Oporto, & other Portugal wines | .30 | |
| 7. | Teneriffe, Fayal, Malaga, St. George & all other Western isld. wines. | .28 | |
|
proposed classification & duties |
|||
| 1. | Tokay, Cape, Malmesey, Madeira & Lond. partic. Madeira | .58 | |
| 2. | all other Madeira. | .50 | |
| 3. | Pacharetti, Sherry (St. Lucar) | .40 | |
| 4. | Burgundy, Champagne, Hermitage, Chateaux Margaux, Latour, Lafite Hautbrion, in bottles | } | .35 |
| 5. | Medoc, Grave, Palus, Cote rotie, Condrieu, in bottles, and all wines of Spain not before mentd. all wines of Portugal | } | .30 |
| 6. | Sicily, Teneriffe, Fayal, Malaga, St. George & other Western isld. wines | } | .28 |
| 7. | all other wines not before enumerated or specified 30. p.c. ad valor. | ||
NHi: Papers of Albert Gallatin.