The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-06-14

OFThe London Morning Herald, in an
obitury notice of the late RICHARD ARK
WRIGHT, Esq, has the following interesting
remarks relative to the comparative wealth
of certain leading European and American
capitalists:
He died possessed, it is reported, of not
less than seven millions sterling in person.
al property alone, irrespective Of landed
estates. AS an individual capitalist there
is not one in Europe at the present time
who can approach within half the distance,
excepting, perhaps, the excellent no less
than wealthy Mr.. Solomon Heine, of Ham,
burg. who according to general repute, is
estimated to concentrate in his own person
the representation of many values to the
vast amount of four millions sterling. 1t
must be remembered, however, that this
sum represents the whole property of Mr..
Heine, whereas the late Mr.. Arkwright was
posed of landed estates perhaps one or two
millions beyond the amount at which the
personality is rated. Immensely wealthy
as are the Earrings. the Rothschilds, the
Hopes &C., of Europe there is not, has not
been, one that could be placed at all in the
comparison; not all tie magnificent for
tunes drawn out of, with all the vast capt.
tai remaining still in the princely house Of
Barring would, perhaps, all combined reach
to the amount not all the splendid capitals
of all the Rothschilds throughout Europe
together equal probably more than one-half
the enormous mass of accumulated hordes
left behind by the late Mr.. Arkwright. Out
of Europe the only capitalist who could ap-
proach the comparison would be Mr.. Astor,
of New York, whose name will be familiar
with all travellers from the massive and
magnificent pile of buildings which, as As
tors Hotel, has administered 10 their con.
venience-a building which, of the descrip-
ton, and for the special use, stands unpar-
alleled in the whole world: with this paat-
ial structure it must be understood that Mr..
Astor neither was nor is otherwise connec.
ted than as planner and proprietor, and as
forming part of his vast estate. The reports
current about the enormous wealth created
and accumulated by this extraordinary man,
carry it as high as sixteen or seventeen
millions of dollars, or say about four mill
lions sterling; but, of course, whilst he is
living, this can only be matter of conjecture,
though perhaps not far from the truth. In
illustration of the fact, however, a curious
aEecdote has been in circulation in the
United States. During the lifetime of the
late Stephen Girard, who, from poor OUT
cast exile from 81. Domingo driven out by
the former slave population, became the
great banker and capitalist of Philadel phia.
it was subject ofsomething like rival con.
tention between the people of Philadelphia
and New York, which possessed the great
est capitalist-that is, which was the more
wealthy man, Girard or Astor. Doubtless
the question was not without its interest to
the money making parties themselves. The
death of one or the other, or of both, could,
however, alone solve the speculations, and
in the former case then only to the survivor.
Accordingly on the death OF Stephen Gil
rard, some years ago, the actual extent Of
his wealth was verified by the publication
of his testament, by which the largest pro-
portion was bequeathed for the establish.
ment and support of literary and public in
situations. When Mr.. Astor was informed
that the total sum of Girard' wealth reached
only to some eleven or twelve millions, he is
reported TO have exhibited signs of satisfac-
ton, and, in an under tone, as if speaking
to himself, 10 have remarked shat would
not do"--meaning, of course, that it did
not come up to the mark of his own prodi-
glous possessions.