East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-10-01


better off than his brother John; 70
, Henry was owner of butcher stall No
81 in tho fly understandable propert
in the commenoement. Of this century
Henry then lived at 81 Bowery1Lane. )
John, in his financial difficulties, Ere
tquently wentlto Henry for loan or 70
an endorsemsnt. This was source o
annoyance to Henry, who did not like {,
borrow or lend to anybody, On ono oc
casion John WANTED two hundred dollar
very badly. lie went to Henry, aU,
asked him to lend him that sum. Err
~ ''John, will give you one hundreC
dollarsif you will agree never TO ask m,
to loan you any money, endorse a note o.
sign n bond for you, or DO obligated fol
you in any manner Whatever hgaI A
John says he hesitated q moment, rap
idly passed the proposition through hi.
Cmind, saw its advantages, for 500 wa
500 in those days, lie accepted the prop
osition, and he never did asll:a favor Of
that character of his brother in after
years.
A business acquaintance of Mr.. Astor
one day asked him what particular trans
action or peculiar kind Of business first
gave him bis great start? Mr.. Astor
never claimed any great sagacity for in
teligencc over his.(ellows. e.- Erf
20 lie said, in reply, that at one period Of
his life he had accumulated quite quau-
tity Of unsaieable furs in this market,
such as beavers. The common iurs, that
he or his agents picked up, viz; muslrat,
mink, rabbit, squirrel, &C., he could sell
in. this city, aud at good prices, The
other aud costly lac had to buy, but could
not sell here, and they were packed away
in whiskey casks down in the cellar, He
had no correspondent in London to send
them to, and no disposition to send them
if he had had. After talking, over the
matter with his wife, they concluded il
would be best for himself to 90 out to
London with the choicest kind OF furs.-
He did SO. The prospect of the trip was
uncertain, aud to economize as much as
possible, he went, out as stoerage pas
senger. E ,....t -...
When he reached London, he found a
ready market for his choice furs, and sold
them ata very high rate. lie made out
a list Of such goods as he thought would
make money by being taken to the New
York market, purchased aud shipped
them by vessel bound hither. After he
was all through with his business, he was
detained couple Of weeks by the ship
not being ready to sail The idle time
he spent in looking about London, and
picking up all tho information possible,
especially such as was likely to advantage
his business in New York. Among other
extraordinary places he visited the great
East Indian House. He visited the ware
house aud Offices. On one occasion he
asked one of the porters what tho name
of the Governor was? The man replied
gividg German name very familiar 10
Mr. Astor. lie asked his informer if tho
Governor was sn Englshman? lie re-
piled that he had come from Germany
originally, when boy. Mr.. Astor de
termined to see him-watched an oppor-
tnnity, and sent in his name ~ Helwas
admitted. When he entered, he said to
the Governor = .-.,..I f.f.. .rr
SIS not your name Withiem? Did not
yuu sl,o ~ eehool IN sueh q tovn?n
81 did, and now / remember you very
WELL. Your name is Astor.N.
After this they had long chat, and
talked over old school matters. The
Governor insisted that Mr.-Astor should
dine with him. lie declined for that day,
but the next they met again. He asked
Mr.. Astor several times if there was
nothing he could do for him2 Mr.. Astor
said no; I; he had bought all he wanted;
he needed no cash.. or credit, Almost
every day they met. The Governor
kept urging Mr.. Astor to name something
that he could do for him.l He asked what
present would be acceptable? Astor de
clined any. Finally, they met two days
before the vessel was to sail, and again
the Governor asked Astor if he would
accept any present he made him? Mr..
Astor, seeing tho Governor 50 anxious,
said;ar 5..-.-......,, .,.-sr .......
es n,,or e. l..-.....,..... ..,.r.,, ..-.......
When he called to bid the Governor
good bye, the latter was really quite az
rectsd at parting with his old German
I.4..rf.s .,,..-.....s '--
"Tako these" said he, "you may find
their value" One Of the documents was
simply a Canton price current, 80 |
The other was a carefully ongrossed
permit on parchment, authorizing the
ship that bore it TO trade freely and with |
put any molestation, at any of the ports
by, the East India Company.
Mr., Astor bade lis friend good bye, |
and returned to this city, never giving
-he i1resenta a second thought. lie had
no ships, and never. had any trade with
The East Indies, and never expected to
nave. ] IIe little dreamed that in the
parchment would be the foundation of
vast shipping operations, and trade
amounting to millions, aad embracing the
Pacific Ocean. Tho permit was No GS. I
When Mr. Astor got heme, he showed
these documents to his wife, and advised,
with her, as he always did, what to do in
the msttersrn -... r... ,,li is,.f ..+...
III have no ships-it's no use TO US, he
said. At this tune there was very eel
ebrated merchant named James Liver
more. lie was largely engaged ia the
w II 4 4 |