Middletown transcript., 1870-04-16

other PERMISSION Whlch naYe not been car
ried into effect, are rescinded. The ship
Beaver is one of the most valuable, the
number of menexposed to peril the great.
est in any merchants service, and the voy-
age not to the West Indies, but to the an
tipodes.
Let us observe the progress of this af-
fair; if the trade is safe, and can be pros
ecuted consistently with the public inter-
ests, let all who are willing engage in it,
otherwise let all be restrained. Let there
be an embargo or no embargo; but let us
not countenance partial dispensation from
the operations of general laws"
Next day old John Jacob Astor got
aroused up, and addressed the following
letter:
To the Editor of the Commercial Ad-
vertiser: observed in your paper of the
18th inst. an article inviting public atten-
tion to transaction Gas you state it, of a
most extraordinary character) relative to
the ship Beaver, and the Mandarin. If
whoever wrote that article will give me
his name, and if he is not prejudiced a
gainst any act of the administration, nor
inf fuenced from envy arising from jealousy,
he shall receive statement of facts rela-
tive to the transaction in question, which
will relieve him from the anxiety under
which he appears to labor for the honor Of
the Government, and the reputation of all
concerned He shall be convinced that
the Government has not been surprised by
misrepresentation in granting permission,
and that the reputation of those concerned
cannot be in the slightest degree affected
By giving the above place in your pa
per, you will oblige sir,
Your humble servant,
JOHN JACOB AsToR.
New York, Aug 18th, 1903.
Twenty years had elapsed since the old
German sold fancy goods, and even rose
to the dignity of pianos, in Pearl street,
near Oak. He could now control a vast
amount of trade. He never made any
explanation, and the journals of the day
did not spare him; but he was realizing
gold, and he knew it. lie could afford to
laugh. His friends called upon him that
night at his house. No. 223 Broadway,
about the middle of the block, where the
Astor House now stands, and congratulat-
ed him upon his note.
The Beaver then left this port in Au-
gust, 1903, and made great voyage. She
returned to New York with two hundred
thousand dollars more than she left
with. She made Canton trip in 1909,
and again in 1910. Some one once asked
John Jacob about the largest sum of mon
ey he ever made at any one time in his
life. He said in reply that the largest
sum of money he ever missed making was
in reference to the purchase of Louisiana,
in connection with DE Witt Clinton, Gov.
Morris, and others. They intended to
purchase all of that province of the Empe-
ror Napoleon, and then to sell it to Presi-
dent Jefferson at the same price charging
25 per cent. commission on the purchase.
1t fell through, for some trifing cause or
other Had they succeeded, Mr.. Astor
estimated that he should have made about
$50. .000,O 900.
His son, William B. Astor, to whom
John Jacob bequeathed most of his proper
ty, never made dollar in his life. He
always stood by his father, and is prompt,
untiring, and liberal to tenants, although
systematic. He still keeps up certain
charities that his father sustained.
Old Jacob had a country-seat out of
town, at Hurlgate, Seth street now, to
avoid the heavy water tax. The Astor
family now own six hundred acres of land
in New York City, most of it covered with
costly buildings.
VIM b. Astor is still hale and hearty,
being about 78 or 70 years of age, and
may be seen daily, walking arm-in-arm
with one of his sons towards his office, in
Prince street. His Office is fitted up like
a banking house, and filled with clerks.
When A. L Stewart, the great mer-
chant first commenced in business, and be-
gan to operate in real estate, he had the
pecuniary assistance and advice, Of his
friend VIM. B. Astor.
The sons of VIM. B. are John Jacob
and William; the former about 4S to sc
years of age, resembling, it is said, his
grandfather John Jacob, in build and com
plexion; with strong, light, German
cast of countenance, being 6 feet high
broad shouldered, and weighing 200 lbs
He is the Astor Of this generation. Will
liam. aged 40, the younger, resembles hi'
mother, being of dark complexion, witt
black hair, he, also, is dutiful son ant
as equally attentive to business as hi
brother. He is tall, of more agile proper
tions, and weighs in the neighborhood o
100 pounds. B. S. 7.
YEw York, April, 1870.
A firm in York ENGLAND several yeap