New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-11-26
Letter from Washington Irving TO Henry r
SchOolcraft, Esq.
SUNNYSIDE, Monday, Nov. /

SvNNYSIDE, Monday, Nov. 10, 1911.
DEAR SIR In your " Personal Memoirs"
recently published, you give conversation with
,he late Albert Gallatin, ESQ, in the course Of
which he made to you the following statement
"Severa years ago John Jacob Aston put into my
hands the journal of his traders on the Columbil,
cesnng ice to use 1t. put 1t into the hands OF
Matte BTun In Paris, who employed the geOgraph.
cal facts IN his work, but paid little respect TO Mr.
Aston, whom he regarded merely as a merchan,
seeking his own proht, and no. dscoverer. He
lad not even sent man to observe the facts IN the
natural history. AstoT did not like it. lie was res
tive several years, and then gave Washington Irving
$1,000 TO take up the MSS This is the history Of
Astoria"
Now, Sir, beg leave to inform YOU that this is not
the history of Astoria. Mr. Gaiiatin was misin formed
as to the part he has assigned me in IT, The work
was undertaken by me throuph 4 real relish of the
subject In the course OF visits IN early life 20 Can
ada, had seen much OF the magnates of the North
W est Company, and of the hardy trappers and fur
iraoers III their employ, and had been excited by
ther stores OF adventurous expeditions int the IN
ulan country was sure, therefore, that nara
tive treating Of them and their dOings, could not fail
TO be iul OF stirring interest and 10 lay open regions
and races OF our country as vet but little Known.
never asked received OF Mr.. Aston
iarlhng on account of the work. lie pad
my nephew, who was then absent practlcng Law ID
limos, foI coming on, examining and coatlng
manuscript journals accounts and other documents.
and preparing what the lawyers would call a BRET
for me. Mr. Fiiz-GTeene Haileck. who was With MI
AstoI at the time, determined what the compensa-
finished, paid my nephew an additional consitera-
uon on ny own account, and out Of my own purse
IL was the compensation paid by Mr.. Aston to my
nephew which Gallailn may have heard OF, and sup
posed Il was paid TO myself but even in thai case
The amount, as reported 10 him. very gre ltly
aggerateO.
MI Aston sgnifed wish TO have the work brought
out n superior STYLE suppOSng that ii was 10 be
done ~ his expense. replied that il must be pro-
duced IN the style OF my other works and at nv
expense and rlsk and that whatever profit was 10
derNe ron u must De from It's sale and my bargain
with me publishers This Is the true history of As
torla, asfs as was concerned in IT,
during my long intimacy with Mr.. Astor, com
menclng when was ayoung man, and ending only
WIN MS deaih never came under pecuniary obi
gstlon to him OF any kind At time Of public pres.
sure, when, having invested a part OF moderate
means II Wild lands, was stratc1ed and OBLIGED 20
seek accommodations from moneyed institutions he
repeatedly urged me to accept loans from MIN, but
always declined He was too prorer5ially rich A
man ior ne 10 permit the shadow Of pecuniSry favor
TO rest on our intercourse
The only moneyed transaction between rs vas nv
purchase Of q share in a town he was founding Al
GIeen bay for that paid cash, though he wished
me amount 20 stand on mortgage. The land fell IN
salue ana some years after~ard when l was IN
SPAN M. AsoT, of his own free will took back the
share from my agent and repaid the original pur-
chase money. This, repeat, was the only noneyed
transaction That ever took place between Us and by
ment.
My intimacy with Mr. 4. was perfectly independ.
ent snc mslnieresiec. IL Vas sough, Originally on
ms part and grew I'D nine out OF the frienishin
We spontaneously manifested for NE, and the conf.
cshce ne seemed 20 repose IN me. Il was drawn
9to>et Nhen, IN The prosecution Of my literary tssk
=, oseane acquainted. from his papers and confien
We aticns, with the scope and power OF MA
mlno' ano the grandeur OF his enterprises J;s
nooie project If the Astor Library conceived a5or,
The same time, and which was selections he sSooI5
Carp mo execution during his lifetime, WIS a
stronger Ink Of intimacy between US vs.
He was altogether ore Of the most rerla-k ,his 49,.
have ever known Of penetrating sagacitv M
sye intellect, and possessing elements Of srsatnss
Of which The busy world around hin was i;..is
aware who, like Maze Brin, regarded hir,
IS merchant seeking hLs Froft~
sfrJ respectfully, ycyr friend aud servant.
WsSDEeToS irviso