And now of the wine which once delighted the world, and which has not yet become 'food for the antiquary.' To begin with, a few dates and figures are necessary. In 1852, that terrible year for France, the Oïdium fungus attacked the vine, and soon reduced to 2,000 the normal yearly production of 20,000 and even 22,000 pipes. [Footnote: Between 1792 and 1827 the yearly average was 20,000. In 1813 it was 22,000. " 1814 " 14,000. " 1816 " 15,000. In 1816 it was 12,000. " 1818 " 18,000. " 1825 " 14,000. It then decreased to an average of 7,000 till the oïdium-year (Miss E. M, Taylor, p. 74).] The finest growths suffered first, as animals of the highest blood succumb the soonest to epidemics. When I wrote in 1863 the grape was being replanted, chiefly the white _verdelho_, the Tuscan _verdea_. In 1873 the devastating Phylloxera appeared, and before 1881 it had ruined two of the finest southern districts. The following numerals show the rapid decline of yield:--6,000 pipes in 1878, 5,000 in 1879, 3,000 in 1880, and 2,000 in 1881. There are still in store some 30,000 pipes, each=92 gallons (forty-five dozen); and a single firm, Messrs. Blandy Brothers, own 3,000. Mr. Charles R. Blandy, the late head of the house, bought up all the _must_ grown since 1863; but he did not care to sell. This did much harm to the trade, by baulking the demand and by teaching the public to do without it. His two surviving sons have worked hard and advertised on a large scale; they issue a yearly circular, and the result is improved enquiry. Till late years the world was not aware that the Madeiran vine has again produced Madeira wine; and a Dutch admiral, amongst others, was surprised to hear that all was not made at Cettes. I give below Messrs. Blandy's trade-prices, to which some 20 per cent, must be added for retail. [Footnote: Sound light medium Madeiras from 26s. to 32s. per dozen, packed and delivered in London; light, golden, delicate, 36_s_.; tawny Tinta, also called 'Madeira Burgundy,' a red wine mixing well with water, 40_s_.; fine old dry Verdelho, 48_s_.; rich soft old Bual, not unlike Amontillado, 54_s_.; very fine dry old Sercial (the Riesling grape), 56_s_.; and the same for highly-flavoured soft old Malmsey, 'Malvasia Candida,' corrupted from 'Candia' because supposed to have been imported from that island in 1445. 'Grand Old Oama de Lobos' is worth 70_s_., and the best Old Preserve wine 86_s_. For wines very old in bottle there are special quotations.] The lowest price free on board is 23_l_, and the values rise from 40_l_. at four years old to 1OO_l_. at ten years old.