Middletown transcript., 1870-04-16
Original Shettl1ts.
Wriaen for the Mdi!letO~n Transcript,
THE ASTOR FAMILY.

From the records of some of "The old
merchants of New York city" we CLEAN
the following:
John Jacob Astor at one period of his
life peddled cakes for old German DETER
ich, and at one time he kept store in
Pearl street, just above Franklin square.
The idea that Mr. Astor came to New
York, from Germany, with property, is
not true. He came steerage passenger
in ship commanded by old Captain Stone,
who has not been dead many years. As late
as January 10th. 1889. we find one of his
advertisements
j. JACOB ASTOR,
At No. 81 Queen street,
Next door but one to the Friends Meet
ing house, has for sale an assortment of
Pianofrrtes of the Newest Construction,
made by the best makers in London. which
he will sell on reasonable terms. He gives
cash for all kinds of furs, and has for sale
a quantity Of Canada Beaver and Beaver
Coating, Racoon Skins, and Racoon Blan-
kets, Muskrat Skins, &c. &c.
He commenced advertising early. 1t
was long after this date before he became
the great merchant, and sent his ships to
India. What row he kicked up in New
York in 1908. 1t was at time when the
embargo of Mr.. Jefferson was in full blast.
Not an oyster boat was allowed to go out
side of Sandy Hook. Fancy the astonish-
mcnt of the ship owners of this city, who
had ships lying in the docks rotting and
idle, when they took up the Commercial
Adccrtiser, of August 18th, 1903, and
read: Yesterday the ship Beaver, Capt.
Galloway, sailed for China"
There was trouble among the merchants
and ship-owners, when it became known
that the ship of Mr.. Astor had actually
gone to sea on long India voyage. Why
should he be favored, and no one else
Finally it was ascertained that the sharp
John Jacob had obtained special permits
sion from the President of the United
States for his ship Beaver, navigated by
80 seamen, to proceed on voyage to Can
ton. for the ostensble object of carrying
home to China great Mandarin of China
John Jacob Astor had picked up a Chi
naman in the park, got up the story, OBJ.
tanned the Presidential permit, and SEN
his ship to sea before other merchants were
aware of the ruse.
A rival house then wrote letter to th,
President, and informed him that the grea
Chinese parsonage was no Mandarin-tha
he was not even Hong merchant, or +,
licensed security merchant-but only !:
common Chinese dock loafer, that hao
been smuggled out of China.
IT. WAS stated that his denortnre from
China was contrary to the laws of tina
country that when he arrived in China
he would be put ashore privately from thu
Beaver, and very likely that his obscurity
and low condition of life might afford hin
his only chance of avoiding summar.
death.
It was dodge of Mr.. Astor to make
Chinese voyage at time when all othe
merchants were restrained by the embargo
Then the old Commercial Adcertise
came out and pitched into Mr.. Astor.
said editorially, in reference to the strang,
permission of President Jefferson:
"The time of granting this permit fo
the Beaver to sail is remarkable. It i
when general embargo is imposed on al
commerce with our nearest neighbors
when the exchange Of domestic produc'
with Canada. New Brunswick and tn,
Floridas in interdipted by an armed force
when the intercourse Of our citizens in ou
own bays. rivers, and harbors, in small
boats incapable of q sea voyage, is subjec
to the most vigorous eantFol of the Custom
House nay maFa-thb permission ha
| oone into ofFaot whan IN aaaount aP sono,