ALEXANDER WILSON. XXXV 



took the first offer of employment we could find, and have con- 

 tinued so since. 



" The weather here is so extremely hot, that, even though writing 

 in an open room, and dressed, according to the custom, in nothing 

 but thin trousers and waistcoat, and though it is near eleven at 

 night, I am wet with sweat. Judge, then, what it must be at noon 

 with all kinds of tradesmen that come to this country, none with 

 less encouragement than weavers ; and those of that trade would 

 do well to consider first, how they would agree with the spade or 

 wheelbarrow under the almost intolerable heat of a scorching sun. 

 I fear many of them never think of these. Necessities of life are 

 here very high, owing to the vast numbers of emigrants from St 

 Domingo and France. Flour, though you will scarce believe it, is 

 near double the price to what it is in Scotland ; beef, ninepence of 

 their currency, which is about sixpence of ours ; shoes, two dollars 

 and a half ; while house-rents are most exhorbitantly high. I was 

 told yesterday, by a person who had come immediately from 

 Washington, that that city does not contain above two dozen of 

 houses, and if it come not faster on than they have done, it won't 

 contain one thousand inhabitants these twenty years. As we passed 

 through the woods, in our way to Philadelphia, I did not observe 

 one bird such as those in Scotland, but all much richer in colours. 

 We saw great numbers of squirrels, snakes about a yard long, and 

 red birds, several of which I shot for our curiosity. I am sorry I 

 have so little room. I beg once more you will write to me soon, 

 and direct to the care of Mr William Young, bookseller, Chestnut 

 Street, Philadelphia ; and wishing you both as much happiness as 

 this world can afford, I remain your affectionate son, 



Alexander Wilson." 



Finding some difficulty to procure a livelihood in Philadelphia, by 

 working at any of the occupations to which he had been accustomed, 

 he introduced himself to a countryman, Mr John Aitken, who gave 

 him a temporary employment at his own business, that of a copper- 

 plate printer. From this period to about 1800, all his correspondence 

 with friends in Scotland seems to have been destroyed, and we 

 comparatively lose sight of him for nearly four years, getting only 

 occasional glimpses as he from time to time settled, for a short 



