Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-03-23
JOHN JACOB AsTOR's START.

The stream OF Wealth that BEGAN With
Gree Permit from the East India Com
pany.
A business acquaintance of Mr.. Asto
once asked him what particular trans
action, or peculiar kind Of business
first gave him his great start. he said
in reply, that at one period Of his life
he had accumulated a large quantity O.
furs, such as beaver, which were unsala
bic in the American market, and they
were packed away in whisky barrels
down in the cellar. He had no CORE.
spondent in London to send them to
and no disposition to do so If he had
After talking the matter over with hi
wife, they concluded it would be advis
able that he should take the furs tc
London himself, and he did SO. The
prospects of the venture were very un
certain, and therefore, in order to econ
omizs as much as possible, he went oui
as steerage passenger. On arriving
in London he found a ready market fol
his furs, and sold them at very high
rate. He then made list of such
goods as be thought would sell to ad-
vantage in the New York market, and
purchased and shipped them. After he
had transacted all his business he was
detained in London for o couple OF
weeks i'll consequence Of the ship not
being ready to sail. He employed the
time in looking about London and
picking up all the information possible,
especially such as he thought would
benefit his business in New York.
Among the places he visited was the
great East India house. and the ware
houses and offices of the company.
On one occasion he asked one of the
porters what the name of the governor
was. The man replied, giving German
name very familiar to MIR. Astor, who
then asked if the governor was an Eng
lishman, and was told that he had
come from Germany when boy. Mr..
Astor thereupon determin ed to see him,
and watching for an opportunity, sent
in his name and was admitted. On
entering he asked the governor, "Is not
your name Wilhelm ?" "Did you not
go to school in such town." The gov.
ernor replied, "I did; and now 7 re-
member you very we'll" A long con-
versation followed, old school days
were talked over, and the governor in
sisted that MIR. Astor should dine with
him. He declined for that day, bnt on
the next day they met again He asked
Mr.. Astor if there was nothing he could
do for him. Mr.. Astor said no; he had
bought all lie wanted, and needed
neither cash nor credit. They met
several times after that, and the COVER
nor continued urging Mr.. Astor to name
something that he could do for him.
He asked what present would be accept
able, and MIR. Astor declined accepting
any. Their last meeting took place two
days before the sailing of the vessel on
which Mr.. Astor vas to return to New
York, and for the last time the COVER
nor asked him if he would accept any
present he made him. Mr.. Astor. seeing
the anxiety Eof the governor, replied,
''yes." The governor, who was much af-
fected at parting with his old German
echoolmate. handed Mr.. Astor two
papers, saying: "Take these, you may
find their value" One of the documents
was simply Canton price current. The
other wss carefully engrossed permit
or parchment, authorizing the ship that
bore it to trade freely and without mo-
lestation, at any Of the ports monopo-
lized by the East India Company. Mr.
Astor returned to New York, without
giving the documents second thought.
He had no ships and never had any trade
with the East Indies, and at that time
never expected to have. He then, oi
course, little imagin ed that the parch-
ment would be the foundation Of vast
shipping operations and trade amount
ing to millions of dollars and embracing
the Pacific Ocean.
The permit was No. 6S. On arriving
home MIR. Astor showed the document
to his wife, and asked her advice, and
he always did in all matters relating to
his business, as to what disposition he
should make of them. 81 have no
ships it is no use to u.s." he said. at
that time there vas in New York o
merchant named james Livermore, who
was largely engaged in the West Indian
trade, particularly with Jamaica. He
owned several vessels, some of them 9
good size, and Mrs. Astor advised hsi
husband to go and have atalk with him.
Mr.. Astor went. showed the East Indis
Company ship pass and the Canton
prices current. "Now," said he, ''if you
will make up voyage for one of your
largest ships. you can have the pass
and the prices current on one condition
You are to furnish ship and cargo, but
7 am to have one-helf Of the profits fol
my pass. and for suggesting the voyage
The West India merchant laughed al
the proposition, and would not listen
to such one-sided operation. Mr.
Astor returned home, reported progress
and for time the matter rested. Mr.
Livermore, however, thought it over
At that tina no vessels traded to Can
ton from New York. The Revolution
ary war had just ended, and the East
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