Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1848-04-19


overland to take an account of the valley
of the Oregon, &c, among them Mr..
Ramsay Crooks. an excellent business
man. brother TO Colonies Jas. and Will
liam Crooks of Canada, and Mr.. VIM. Y.
Hunt. and would have realized much
wealth from the adventure in the course Of
a few years, had not one of his partners
sold Astoria without mis- knowledge or con-
sent. TO his opponents, the North W est
Company, at the very moment when peace
would have restored il to him.
When our nation went TO war with
England. Mr.. Astor adopted his business
TO the crisis. and gained enormously By
it. His furs in the far west. at Michili-
mackinack, Detroit. and elsewhere on the
way to a market, were placed in q posi-
ton of great danger. BIZ the movements
of opposing armies and hostile fleets, but
by his own energy and tact he released
them, and carried them safely TO the best
markets. Through our government. he
made intercession with that Of Canada.
was permitted to bring his furs thence 10
this city, and here shipped them indirectly
for London; and in June I'VE believe il
was) 1919. he gave passage to Gotten
burg in the Hannibal to Gen Moreau and
suite. who were going TO Europe to aid the
allies, also to Villot. Reubel and Guytard.
French outlaws. 1t is not probable that
Admiral Warren would have desired to
modest the Hannibal.
The question is often asked, How rich
is Mr. Aston! But who can answer! Per-
haps, in his lifetime. he could have made
an estimate within two o. three millions OF
the true value. and perhaps not. Those
who may have known. tell US that his in
come Of late has been million of dollars
a year, besides large property at pres
States-owns stock and scrip and has
claims by bill, bond and mortgage-the
Astor House, income $4,000 a year.
City Hotel. rented at Sl5 900; and the
Park Theatre, perhaps worth $1,000 a
month. owned him for their lord: the block
of buildings on Broadway opposite Niblo's
and thousands of lots, lands and tene-
meIts in and near New York were his
he had ships and shares, (who knows how
much?) and rumor has it that his will
was opened yesterday at one, probably to
ascertain his instruction about his funeral
yet this is scarcely probable. for he had
brcathcd his last only 3 hours beiore-at
half past nine.
\ very great part Of Mr.. Astor's wealth
has arisen from the increased value of
property in this City above Grand street.
1t is pretty clearly established that al
though he did some generous acts, al
though from policy he Toasted and caresscd
the rich and influential, he was a hard
man.
He lived in style becoming his station
and means. For many years his house.
store and Office were situated on the
ground now occupied by the Astor House.
lie was intimate with very many of the
leading characters of the last age. with
Gallatin, Armstrong. Munroe. Erving.
Clay. Webster, Ogden. Emmett, Van Bu-
rem. Dearborn, Thompkins, Rush. Cass.
Spencer, Barker. &c, and il is said, nor
do we doubt it, that he extended his pat
ronaee in several instances to literary
men who required pccuniarv aid.
Mr. Aston lent President Madison's adj
ministration some small sums in 1879 or
1913. out in 1914. toward the close of the
war. when the banks had ceased to pay
specie, and their notes were al 80 to 80
per cent. discount, he concerted with
Ncssrs Parish and Girard, went to Phila-
delphia and Washington. and obtained
the bonds Of the Federal Government,
payable, the principal with interest: at
per cent in specie. for several million Of
dollars, at so or 80 cents. This he paid
in the paper of certain banks with which
he had connection. which was worth, say.
so cents in silver for the dollar. and as he
received the obligation of the United
States for 81 in exchange for 90 cents Of
Il +oI I-,
cleared moro than million of dollars in
hard money on every two millions ofpaper
thus lent!
Mr.. Girard, who got part of the loan Of
1914. left his twelve millions for cduca-
tional purposes. and it is said that Mr. 4.
has bequeathed $500, 900 for the purpose
ola library for the general benefit Of our
fellow citizens-that Mr.. Cogswen, who
speaks German, and resided some time
with Mr. Aston. as friend. has been to
Europe negotiating for books in various
languages-and that he Mr.. Az offered
S1OO,O0O for the ground at Niblo's inten-
ding to raise there, in Broadway, suita-
bic ediflcc in which to hold his most endu-
ring monument-the Aston free library.
It is said of Mr.. A., that he once remar-
ked. that he found itmuch more difficult
10 earn the first 81 900 than to convert
that 81 900 into a million. How that may
be we know not, but his bargain for the
philipse estates will serve to show how
well ne knew how TO improve his means.
Frederick Phlipse owned immense
tracts at Philipsburgh Fredericksburgh.
also much OF Putnam county. and in this
city and near it. He was of Dutch b.
hen,ian family and married a Van Court
landt One Of his daughters espoused
Col. Beverly Robinson. whose son. Bever-
" Robinson, was a Colonel in the British
army These Philipses and Robinsons
are extensively allied 10 ancient and hon
orable families. but. except one brother.
Philip Philipse, they all went for the mon
archy in 1875. and Pitt allowed Col. =.
Robinson, who had married a Philipse,
$50, 900 for his life interest-to Col. Nor
ris other $4,000 for life interest-and