

WILLIAM MAC LURE. 9 



teacher, who was especially reputed for classical and 

 mathematical attainments. His pupil's strong mind 

 readily acquired the several branches of a liberal 

 education: but he has often remarked, that from 

 childhood he was disposed to reject the learning of 

 the schools for the simpler and more attractive truths 

 of natural history. The active duties of life, how T - 

 ever, soon engrossed his time and attention; and at 

 the early age of nineteen years he visited the United 

 States with a view to mercantile employment. He 

 landed in the city of New York; and having made 

 the requisite arrangements, returned without delay to 

 London, where he commenced his career of commer- 

 cial enterprise as a partner in the house of Miller, 

 Hart & Co. He devoted himself to business with 

 great assiduity, and speedily reaped a corresponding 

 reward. In the year 1796 he again visited America, 

 in order to arrange some unsettled business of the 

 parent establishment: but in 1S03 w T e find him once 

 more in England, not, however, as a merchant, but in 

 the capacity of a public functionary: for Mr. Maclure 

 \\ a> at this time appointed a commissioner to settle 

 the claims of American citizens on the government 

 of France, for spoliations committed during the revo- 

 lution in that country. In this arduous and respon- 

 sible trust Mr. Maclure was associated with two col- 

 leagues, John Fenton Mercer and Cox Earnet, Esqs.; 

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