Z PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



1832, and when he was about four years old the family moved 

 to 1309 Filbert Street (old number 139), adjoining the spacious 

 house and flower garden of William's uncle, Isaac Loyd. 



Although I have made a careful search, I have so far been 

 able to find only a few letters referring to his early life, and no 

 lists or note-book data of any kind referring to birds, flowers, 

 etc., to which so much of his attention was devoted. Most of 

 his letters refer principally to family interests and have little 

 value in connection with the scientific side of his life. 



One of the earliest letters that I have found was written to 

 his mother when he was thirteen years old, from Westtown, 

 Chester Co., Pa., where he then attended school and was dated 

 third month, 1841. The letter says: '*! have succeeded in mak- 

 ing a forcing pump which throws a continued stream, but does 

 not throw it far, and also an engine which does not send a very 

 good stream, but sends what it does all the way across the wash 

 room nearly. Please send me a little cement." 



His mother and brothers lived at the time at the Filbert 

 Street house, and although the woods and fields were not far 

 away, no doubt William found the beautiful country around 

 Westtown most congenial to his study of natural history, not- 

 withstanding his mind was bent upon mechanical pursuits as 

 well. 



The account of Wm. L. Baily in the " Baily Genealogy", 

 edited by Gilbert Cope, reads as follows: "On leaving school 

 he joined his brothers in the dry-goods business; at the same 

 time he gave much attention to mechanical pursuits for which 

 he seemed to have a predilection. Many articles elaborately 

 constructed attested his ingenuity and skill. Among these was 

 a power loom for weaving tapestries, an invention he did not 

 live to perfect, but his ideas were availed of by others who car- 

 ried his work to completion. 



" A close student of nature from early life; trees, flowers and 

 birds were his familiar companions. His opportunities for pur- 

 suing such studies were greatly increased in his later years, 

 when failure of health made outdoor life more desirable. He 

 was proficient both with pencil and brush, and he invented a 

 process for reproducing on paper the brilliant hues, especially 



