The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-26
The Old MeIch ants OF New York.
Eros1a fhc Me.n I-orI.

Under the pseudonym of Walter Barrett, vete-
ran clerk in a large mercantile house Of this city,
prominent merchants of New York, whom he has
known either personally or by reputation The
fourth volume OF the series is just issued by Carle-
tom, Mr.. Barrett could never have earned q
living merely as writer. His style is that of a
fluent, gossippy talker, muchof the LID and inter
est OF whose narratives s lost in the effort to put
In tia host OF facts which will be read with inter-
est by New Workers.. He has evidently heard a
good share of tho mercantile gossip Of the last
thirty or forty years, and has a wonderful memory
Taking his book for what il is-that is. as desti-
tute OF literary meri', bu' as containing much in
terestlng gossip-we make q few extracts
JOHN JACOB AsroR.
He commenced advertising early It was long
after this date before he became the great mers
chant and sent his ships to India. What row he
kicked mp in this city in 1901 1t was at time
blast Not an oyster boat was allowed to go 20 ont ru
side OF Sandy HpoR. Evory merchant did the
best he knew how under tho circumstances, Fan
CITY. who had ships lying in tho docks rotting
and idle, when they tonk up tho Commercial Ad-
veTtjser OF Augnst1s, 1908, and read.
u,;,Ys Yesterday the ship Beaver, Captain Galloway
There were at that time eighty thousand people
IN IN this city, and good old Mariuus Willett was
mayor, and his grandfather had been the first
Mayor of New York before him in 1865, nearly two
hundred years ago. Every ono knew that the ship
Beaver was built and owned by John Jacob Astor
There was trouble among the merchants and
ship-owners when it became known that the ship
OF Mr.. Astor hal actually gone to sea on long
lgdla voyage. Why should he pc favored and no
one elsep Finally it was ascertained that John
Jacob was too smart for ordinary merchants. He
mad obtained special permission from the Presi-
dent OF the United States for his ship Beaver,
navigated by thirty seamen, to proceed on voy-
age to Canton for the ostensible object OF carry.
ing nome to China great Mandarin OF China.
John Jacob Astor had picked up Chinaman
IN the Park got up the story, got the Presidential
permit, and got his chip 10 sea before other mer-
ohsnts smelt the mice.
A rival house then wrote letter to the Presi-
dent (Jeferson), and told him that the great Chi
nose parsonage WAS no mandarin-that he was
not even Hong merchant, or licensed security
dock loafer that had been smuggled out OF China
1t was stated that his departure from China was
contrary to laws or that country; that when
he arrived in China he would be put ashore pri
yately from the Beaver, and very likely that his
obscurity aud low condition OF life might afford
him his only chance OF avoiding summary death
1t was limited that il the Government had beer
surprised at giving this permit by tho representa-
tiyes OF Mr. Astor, that the error could be cor
rected, and that the transaction could be vindi
Dated and the honor Of the administration bt
maintained by arresting Al ", and putting hin
through q conrse Of sprouts.
It is not likely that Secretary OF State, in TIT
time OK Jefferson, could have had bis hands greas
cd At any rate, it is we'll known that MIR. secre
tary OF State Madison o great friond O
Astor's, for he furnished him with copies of th
letters and the names Of his mercantile caium
niators.