LIFE OF WILSON. 



xix 



travelled through the north part of the state of Newjersey, with 

 an acquaintance, in the capacity of a trader, and met with tolera- 

 ble success. 



On his return from the above expedition, he opened a school 

 on the Bustletown road, a short distance from the town of Frank- 

 ford, Pennsylvania* Being dissatisfied with this situation, he 

 removed to Milestown, and taught in the schoolhouse 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 

 witli great diligence ; and acquired all his knowledge of the ma- 

 thematics, which was considerable, solely by his own exertions. 



Whilst residing at Milestown, 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 twenty-eight 

 days traversed an extent of nearly eight hundred miles. 



He changed his residence next, for one in the village of 

 Bloomfield, Newjersey, 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 Kingsess ; a short distance from Gray's ferry, 

 on the river Schuylkill. 



This removal constituted an important era in the life of Mr. 

 Wilson. His schoolhouse and residence being but a short dis- 

 tance from the Botanical Garden of Messieurs 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 with- 

 out 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 con- 



