1816.] Alexander Wilson. 333 
ployment at that business, at which he continued for a few weeks; 
and abandoned it for his trade of weaving, having made an engage- 
ment with Mr. Joshua Sullivan, who resided on the Pennypack 
creek, about 10 miles north of Philadelphia. 
The confinement of the loom did not agree either with:Mr, 
Wilson’s habits or inclinations; and learning that there was consi- 
derable encouragement afforded to settlers in Virginia, he migrated 
thither, and took up his residence near Shepherd’s Town, ‘in that 
of the state known by the name of New Virginia. Here he 
again found himself necessitated to engage in the same'sedentary 
éccupation; and soon becoming disgusted with the place, ‘he re= 
turned to his friend, Mr. Sullivan, at Pennypack. 
I find from one of his journals that in the year 1795 he travelled 
through the north part of the state of New Jersey, with an ‘ac- 
quaintance, in the capacity of a trader, and met with ‘tolerable 
success. 
On his return from the above expedition he opened a school on 
the Bustle Town road, a short distance from the town of Frankfort, 
Pennsylvania. Being dissatisfied with this situation, he removed to 
Miles Town, and taught in the school-house of that village. In 
this last place he continued for several years ;and being deficient ‘in 
the various branches of learning necessary to qualify him for an 
instructor of youth, he applied himself to study with great dili- 
gence; and acquired all his knowledge of the mathematics, which 
was considerable, solely by his own exertions. 
Whilst residing at Miles Town he made a journey on foot to the 
Gennesee country, for the purpose of visiting a small farm of which 
he was joint proprietor; and in the space of 28 days traversed an 
extent of nearly 800 miles. 
He changed his residence next for one in the village of Bloom- 
field, New Jersey, where he again opened a school. But soon being 
advised of a more agreeable situation, he solicited and received an 
engagement from the trustees of Union School, in the township of 
i » a short distance from Gray’s Ferry, on the river Schuyl- 
ill. 
This removal constituted an important era in the life of Mr. 
Wilson, His school-house and residence being but a short distance 
from the botanical garden of Messrs. Bartram, situate on the 
western bank of the Schuylkill, a sequestered spot possessing 
attractions of no ordinary kind, an acquaintance was soon con- 
tracted with that venerable naturalist, Mr. William Bartram, which 
ripened into an uncommon friendship, and continued without the 
least abatement until severed by the hand of death. Here it was 
that Mr. Wilson found himself translated, if we may so speak, into 
a new existence. He had long been a lover of the works of Nature, 
and had derived more happiness from the contemplation of her 
simple beauties than from any other source of gratification, But 
he hitherto been a mere novice ; he was now about to receive 
instructions from one whom the experience of a long life, spent in 
