The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-09-20

Ihe NapuicOnlC character OF MI. AS.
tors mind is shown by the great com
mercial schemes which shared the claims
OF real estate. lie was extending the
ramitications of his trade through the
Northwest wilderness and competing
with the Hudson Bay Company for the
pelify taken by the numerous tribes of
sayages, while at the same time a vast
export trade was carried on with Europe,
and also with China, whence he brought
teas in exchange for furs. II was this
broad ambition which prompted the
grand scheme Of new station at the
mouth Of the Colombia And this
scheme, though il failed, was not with.
out great national results. lts misfor-
tunes were chroRicled by the pen Of
Irving, and in his pages the story of the
crew murdered, and The ship plundercd
and burned, was recorded among the
tragedies Of commerce.
Mr.. AstOr lived to old age, and his life
was one OF few changes. From his
humble shop in Little Dock street (nOw
Water street near Coentics Slip) he re-
moved his place Of business TO Liberty
street (Number 40 and subsequently
TO Broadway. His longest place ofabode
was Number 223 Broadway, now a part
of the site of the Astor House, whence,
alter residence in llObOken, he moved
uptown TO block in Broadway near
Prince street. Here he remained until
death, but he lived long enough to see
the progress of the city covering his
lands with dwellings and bequeathed 10
his son the largest estate in America
Mr.. AstOr had a literary taste, and was
fond of book-men. lie gave Fitz-Green
llallech snug and profitable clerkship,
and on the death Of the capitalist, VII
liam Is. Astor presented 10 the poet the
sum OF ten thousand dollars. Mr. Astor
also sought the acquaintance of Wash
ington Irving on the return of that dis
tnguished gentleman from Europe, and
1t was at his especial request that the
Astoria was written. The friendship be-
tween these two distinguished men con-
tinued until death, when il was found
that MIR. Irving had been appointed one
of the executors Of the will The fees
connected with this office could not have
been less than one hundred thousand
dollars, and the executors tsix i'm num-
ber) at one time received ten thousand
dollars apiece.
Mr.. Astor's project of the library was
conceived long before his death, and he
had DIR. Cogswell for several years engage
ed in the collection of books for this pur-
pose. The full provisions, however, were
not known until the reading of the will
| developed the plan and funds. The plan
was not carried out in detail but was left
to the judgment Of the trustees, who
modified it considerably, making an in
stitution for reference instead of a mere
circulating library.
To the original bequest Mr.. William
b. Astor has since added a large convey
ance of real estate, and the institution is
! nearly double its original size. Speak
! ing OF Mr.. William b. AstOr, we may be
| led to few references Of personal ma
ture. As the ordinary street passenger
is trayersing Prince street, he is not like
! ly TO be struck by any of its surrond-
ings. The street itselris but of third
rate character, and the houscs-arc but of
a common stamp Near Broadway,
however one may notice a small brick
Office, neatly built, of one story, with
gable to the street, but with doors and
windows closed, aud the whole appear
ance one Of security. Near the door may
be seen a little sign which reads thus :
Entrance next door: Office hours from
nine TO three The next door, TO which
we are referred, is plain three story
brick dwelling, with no name on the
door, and might be taken for the resi- q
dence of some Well-tO-dO old fashioned
family. Hence one is quite startled 10
find that this is the headquarters of the
chief capitalist of America. Entering
the street door, one will find himself in
small yestibulc, neatly noored with
chcckered oil-clOth, and opening n door
on his left he will enter well-lightcd
front-room, destitute of any furniture but
a counting house desk and a few chairs
At this desk stands an accountant Cor
perhaps two working at set Of book 81
and evidently enjoying an easy berth
lie will answer all ordinary inquiries
will do the duty of refusing charitable
demands, and will attend 10 any thing
in the ordinary run OF business but II
one has ATTY thing special on hand, he
well point Ia door opening into a rear
Office. This apartment is of moderate
size and of simple furniture. On thl
table are few books, and on opening
one Of them, which appears well thumbeC
il will be found 10 contain maps of plots
of city property, carefully and elegantly
executed, and embracing the bOundarie,
Of an enormous estate. Seated by th,
, table may generally be seen a stout-buil
man with large and unattractiye features
and upon the whole an ordinary face. iI
is plainly dressed, and has a somewha
carc-Worn look, and appears 10 be iltl
or sixty years Of age. One naturall,
feels Chat is, if he be a poor mani tina
it is quite a rare thing 10 address a capi
talist, and especially when that capital
ist is the representative, say Of twenty
I five millions Of dollars. Such, at leas
Z was our experience az our first intcryic,
+ with William b. Astor.
{ Mr.. Astor occupies an imposing man
b sion in Lafayette Place, aud immodiatel
8 adjoining is the magnificent library
J, which wehaye referred, and which shoul
:. commemorate the name of the son
, well as that Of the father. AT this houi
b hc spends that small portion of his tin
X which Is not occupied by his duties
'' Prince street, where lac does a full day
j. work Sundays excepted every day
.c the week Thus the daily routine Of Il
T. richest man in America isa walk 10 an
d from home Oft half-mile or 50, and clio
IS attention TO business.
.- The care Of Mr.. Astor's estate is ava
IA burden, His tenements Of all grad
We number several hundreds, ranging fro
Iy the dwelling at three hundred dolls
I'd per annum TO the magnificent warehou
nd or hotel al thirty thousand dollars.
ne relieve himself from the more yexauo
.st features Of his business, hc has comm