xxxii LIFE OF 



By a little exertion at the loom, and some kind assistance from 

 other quarters, he was enabled to earn the funds necessary to defray 

 the expenses of his intended voyage ; and, bidding a long farewell 

 to his parents, and those companions, who had so often assisted him 

 to the extent of their means — to the scenes where he had wandered 

 from his boyhood — where every bush and tree had its story — every 

 crag or bold feature in the landscape its associations and recollections, 

 to be felt only by those who have been placed in similar circumstances, 

 — he set out on foot from the land of his birth, and arrived at Belfast, 

 where he had accidentally heard that a vessel was nearly ready to sail. 

 His nephew, William Duncan, a lad of sixteen, was his companion. 

 He had shared his confidence, and agreed to share his fortunes ; and, 

 on the morning of the 23rd May 1794, the young men set sail from 

 Ireland ; and, after a dangerous passage of twenty-two days, they 

 arrived in safety at Newcastle, in the state of Delaware. 



We now find Wilson in the land where he imagined all his 

 wrongs would cease. " He had often," says Mr Ord, in his excellent 

 (i Memoirs," "cast a wistful look towards the western hemisphere; and 

 his warm fancy had suggested the idea, that among that people only, 

 who maintained the doctrine of an equality of rights, could political 

 justice be found. He had become indignant at beholding the influ- 

 ence of the wealthy converted into the means of oppression, and had 

 imputed the wrongs and sufferings of the poor, not to the condition 

 of society, but to the nature and constitution of the government." 

 The sequel will show how these opinions are borne out. 



Upon landing in the New World, his funds were so scanty as to 

 require an immediate exertion, and he set out on foot in search of 

 work to Philadelphia ; from thence he wrote to his parents, informing 

 them of his safe arrival ; and this letter being fortunately preserved,* 

 I am enabled to give an account of his passage, and first opinions of 

 America, in his own words : — 



" Philadelphia (United States), 

 July 25, 1794. 



" Dear Father and Mother, — You will see by this that I am 

 at length landed in America, as is also my nephew, William Duncan 



* This letter is now in possession of his sister, Mrs Bell, to whose kindness 

 I am indebted for its use. 



