Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-04-22
LETTER FROM NEW YORK
Correspondence Of Ms Richmond Enqair,r.i
New YORK, April 10th, 1859.

The pith Of the Europa's news is before youc
readers, which may be embraced in a few
words, viz 1st. The Defeat of the Derby min
istry; I'd. Cotton was firm and breadstutts dull;
Sd. Measures for the Peace Congress were in
progress; and 4th. Consols and money WEIR
without change Of importance.
The weather has become clear and mild to-day.
April, so far, has given US a temperature like
that usually experienced in March.
The Black Republican Legislature at Albany
deriving its existence through the lobby pap,
hangs on, TO the great annoyance Of the pco-
pie. They have got into q high quarrel among
themselves. The Governor has vetoed some of
its schemes of plumber, and the hopenow is, that
they will suddenly break up in a row or other
wise. The city charter bill has failed. and the
proxy bill, also. They are now quarrcling
over the quarantine and city tax bills, and the
House. ultra Black as it is, moves with all its
might to draw the Senate into the support Of
their ultra plans Of speculation and fraud
The end will be soon.
The rulnorS regarding the fllibuStcrins en-
petition against Cuba, have pretty much sub
sided, which we believed from the first to have
been exaggerated. The last Havana adviccs
indicate a disregard Of the report first published
hy the French Courier" OF this city.
Correspondents Of Boston papers, resident
in New York, are constantly committing blum
, derS, originating in ignorance, or in wiliulncSs
of invention. Thus. one the other day set down
Mr.. Vim. b.. Astor's fortune ut $4,000, 600;
when it is notorious. that under no clrcumStan-
ccs can it exceed $l4, 900, 900 to $l5, 1000, 00d.
John Jacob Astor'S wealth at the time Of his
death, was estimated at SIG, 000. 900, exclusive
of considerable donations made to VIM. Is.
and other children previous TO his deccaSc.-
Before his death. exaggerated views regarding
his riches were circulated, some of which put
Town his fortune at S25, 00o, 900. This Of
course was 81, 400, 900 in excess of the amount.
Neither is it true, that Vim. b. Aston has so
much money that he does not know what to do
withit, and that he begged the Rev. Mr.. Chapin's
congregation to retain 100000, and to pay him
the interest on it. Mr.. .Astor is n clear headed,
practical business man, who manages his large
fortune with skill and judgment, and is never
at Il loss to find fair investments for any surplus
funds coming into his possession. BY his tact
and talents in business, the property which he
inherited from his father, has been greatly III
creased in value. Ills heaviest Investments
have been in real estate, which has steadily i'm
proved on his hands. When in the city, his
time is given with great regularity to the man
aeemcnt of his immense property. His resi-
dencc in Lafayette Place, though in \ desirable
part of the town, and nearly opposite the AStor
Library, and in a row Of imposing colorado
houses, is greatly cclipsrd by a great many
palatial dwellings in 9th Avenue. His plain
brick one story building, occupied as Offices
and counting rooms, is in Spring street near
broadway. On entering the said building any
morning after 10 \. NJ, the visitor will en-
counter a large well framed and well proper
toned man, not corpulent, but full AID round
of person, with regular, yet rather iull and
large features and blue eyes, slightly grey
whiskcrs and hair, cut with trim L%catneSs;
dressed in well fitting and trim garments al
mixed colors, indicating 4 man Of good Common
sense and taste. who shows 10y his suitable ap-
parcl that he is neither a iop nor a sloven.-
lie is villa, the world would call 4 very good
! looking man, and in his youth no DOUBT was
esteemed what might be termed by the fair SEX
handsome man. On asking if Mr.. A'tor Is
within. this gentlemen will answer TO tharnane.
He i, no idlcr. and those who call upon him at
his office are expected to he brief and to the
point, and if touching rents or other matters of
real estate, the applicant is at once referred to
the employee in his establishment, whose duty
il becomes to attend to the subject. lie is not
only n man of talents and system, but possesses
true courage. Some Years ago, two or
three unprincipled adventures formed 4
conspiracy against him. for the purpose OF
extorting money from him. They wrote him
ANONYMOUS letters, pretending that, by some
sort of inheritance, they had come in possession
Of some old documents which disclosed the fact
that a large share of his fathers fortune had
been acquired by the most criminal and dis
honorable means. such rs countcriei.ing silver
money, &c, and passing it among Indians and
other barbarianS; and stated that they must
have paid over TO them 4 large sum OF money,
! nf our memory serves us. some $4,000, 900 or
$50 600, 000,D or. in default of which, his life
would he taken and his house burnt over the
heads of his family. Several Of these threaten
ing letters were sent to him, each one becoming
more importunate and violent in its demands.
Mr.. .Astor kept perfectly cool, and went about
his business Us usual. lie finally laid n trapto
catch the ~rascals. lie caused a note to be sent
to them. stating that 4 friend of his would meet
them at a certain place and time and pay over
to them the required sum Of money. This was
assented to by the rogucs. Mr.. .Astor then
employed some policemen, in citizens dress, TO
CllCn lltll-OUCi w "iiOh 'h' W N'N'
at the appointed place with the amount re-
quired, in broken bank notes, while the Others
were to keep watch. One of the number APP
pcarcd, who. in breathleSS anxiety. took the
large package of bills, with the amount labelled
on the paper slip in which they were bound.
On leaving with his supposed prize, he was fol-
lowed by the two other policemen. in 4 circuit,
Gus route. and finally int, all omnibus, and
then to a certain house, on which a watch was
kept. when the conspiratorS were finally cap.
tured. They were soon after tried, convicted
and sent to the Pcnitcntiary for a considerable
term of wears. To make his annoyance worse.
they also sent similar letters, it was said, to
Mrs. Astor. His GOODNESS and Self:poSsession
gave indications of 4 high dcgreeof both moral
and physical courage.
Mr.. Astor has recently distinguished him
self by an act Of great public spirit and liberal
ity. and one for which his fellow-citizenS have
great reason to feel both pride and gratitica'
ton. BY the recent report made by the trns-
tees Of the Astor Library, signed by Washing
ton Irving as President, and Samuel b. Rug
giles Secretary of the Trustees, it appears that
Mr.. VIM. Il. Aston has given a piece Of ground
adjoining the Aston Library building erected
under the will of his father, valued at s3o,4l6,
(now worth, probably, $4,000 and has had a
superb building erected on it, similar to the first,
so that the two together form one vast and clc-
CANT pile for the collection Of books, and which,
with the ground, has cost over s2oo,oon. lie
has also given the trustees notice, that they
NAV proceed to fill it with books, and that he
will foot the bills.
The will of John Jacob AStor bcqueathed
S40O, 900 for the endowment of the library
bearing his name, to be appropriated as follows:
$4,000 to the building fund, for establishing
the library $l2O, 600, and for maintaining and
increasing it sos, OO0-to which Mrs. Lang
don Chis daughter) and others devised land, &c,
taken for a site, valued at $50, 95l making n
total valuation of endowment equal to S425,?5l.
This value has since been augmented by the sur
plus income, donations of books, and increase of
property, to a total near about $4,000 Mr..
VIM. B. Astor. probably, designs to make his