The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-08-03

many difficulties ia consequence of being
captured during the late war, and Just as
peace was declared. aud as ii was 10 br re-
stored. i, was wrenched from Mr., As,or's
hands by The treachcry of his partner From,
the tile of The establishment fthe Amrrican
Fur Company, MIR. Asror became largely
engaged In commerce.. His ships freiuhed
with lurs for France. England, Germany and
Russn-wilh peiries. ginseng, and dollars
for China, now ploughed every sea. 10 re-
ceivc these products OF the New World and
exchange item for the valuable commodities
ni the Old. Mr.. astor's instructions To his
rapiains were minute ana exceedingly par
iicular. He evinced almos: us intimate II
knowledge of the various markets in which
he traded as though he had been resident
at each respective mart. In The distribution
of his cargoes al home. and in exchanging
his commodities with the natives. MIR. AsIor
exercised minute inspection even 10 the
smallest de,ails. and seemed 10 possess an al
most inIuiIive knowledge ni The market mol
only in The United States. hui also in Canada
Yet Mr.. Asior did not besiow AT his coun
Ting house more than half the lime most
merchants feel compelled 10 give their con
Germs. Ii has been remarked OF him, by one
of his intimate friends ii man Of some emin-
ence. that Mr.. Asior was capable of COM
manding an army of 100000 men. During IL
good portion OF Mr.. Asior's active life, he re
sided in large house in the lower part oil
Broadway, and lived in style OF prncely
md2niiicence, attended by servants from
some OF the various nations with which he
rided among them some from the Empire
OF The CelesIiaIs. His'house was furnished
with the richest plate. and his apartments
adorned with works cfarl among whirh was
a Cupid by Mignard, which was regarded a.
ii work OF rare merit, and for which Astur
paid princely sum.
Notwithstanding The magnitude and sue
cess of Mr.. Astor's business operations, YET
he greatest source ofhis wealth has resulted
from The increased value of real estate con
Sequert on the continued growth of the ely.
AT an early day he loresaw The future great
ness of this commercial emporium of The
Western Continent. and was wont 10 con
vert TWO thirds Of his annual gains into real
e-fafe, not one fool Of which he ever mort
gagged. 1t has been his policy 10 invest it,
mortgages on The best property offered and
in case OF fore closure. which has often hap
pencd, he has bought The properly in al
much less Than lis real value. In this mode.
together with The continual increasing value
otreal estate, in this city. he has multiplied
his wealth FAR beyond The natural accumula
non by The ordinary interest,". and hence 10
The bulk oil his properly, Mir. Aslor has
vast tracts of land in Missouri, Wisconsin
Iowa and other parts of the west, the pros
peciive value OF vhirh is very great. The
greater portion oil his properly is in real es
late and mortgages in his City. Could MIR
Asior's properly could he Kept uuhroi;en and
under its present management, il would be
come the largest individual estate ever
known or The globe. The estimate of the
value o! lhis properly given above is moderate
those knowing his affairs hest placing il ~
S30,000,0OO. IA year; or S166 coca mortl.,
which is about 81 500 week; 50 7G0 :;
day, S24O an hour, and "A Il minute. Mr.
Aston has made donation of S350CC0 for .
library in this city. the i tcrest 81 which is Il
be exl ended in employing agents 10 pur
chase books, and in HE erection ola bull
ding. Mir. Ccgsn ell. lae editor oil the N. y.
Re,iew, is the agent and librarian. Mr..
Asior has two SOUS. VIM. 3. ard one who
has been inbecile from his berth one Of his
daughters became The Countess RumpG, ard
lately deceased al Paris. another decreased
was married 10 Mr., Brisied, an English
man. author Off work on Resources Of
America and now a clergyman al Bristol
r. |. A. grandson, Charles Bristed, is al
Cambridge. England.
John Jacob Astor beat skins in Gold street
III carly life"