Lea and Perrin's Sauce.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4310, 15 March 1884, Page 4 (Supplement)

Lea and Perrin's Sauce.

AlTHoroH inferior in money-making power to _ a mint, sauce, too, can make the guineas roll briskly in, and notobly has this been the onso" with Lea and Pet-tin's Worcestershire. A scrutiny of the label will show that it is prepared "from the receipt of a nobleman in tho country." The nobleman is Lord Sandys, and _ Messrs Lea and Perrin's connection with the sauce came about rather curiously. Many years ago, Mrs Grey, author of " The Gambler's Wife" and other novels, well known in their day, was on a visit to Ombersley court, when Lady Sandys chanced to remark that she wished she could tret some very good curry - powder; which elicited from Mrs Grey that sho had in her desk an excellent recipe which her uncle, Sir Charles, Chief Justice of India, had brought thence and given her. Lady Sandys said that there were some clever chyniists in AVorcester, who perhaps might be able to make up the powder ;at all events, when they drove in after luncheon they would see. Messrs Lea and Perrins looked at the receipt, doubted if they could procure all the in. gradients, but said they would do their Best, and in due time forwarded a packet of tho powder. Subsequently the happy thought struck some one in the business that the powder might, in solution, mako a good sauce. The experiment was mtule, and bydegrees the thing took amazingly. All the ■world, to its remotest ends, now knows of Worcestershire sauce as an article of commerce ; and, notwithstanding that, in common with most good things, it, is terrib'y pirated',, an enormous trade-It done in it. The profits, 1 am told, amount to thousandsof pounds a year, and I cannot but suppose that liberal cheques, bearing tho signature of Lea and Perrins, haxe passed from that firm to Mirs Grey, to whom it is so hoaTily/ indebted for its prosperity.