XXll 
LIFE OF WILSON- 
poor, and had no prospect of bettering his condition in his native 
country. Having heai'd flattering accounts of America, he con- 
ceived the design of emigrating thither, and settling in the United 
States. 
It was some time in the latter part of the year 1793 that the 
resolution was formed of forsaking the land of his forefathers. His 
eye having been accidentally directed to a newspaper advertise- 
ment, which stated that the American ship Swift would sail from 
the port of Belfast, in Ireland, on the first of May following, with 
passengers for Philadelphia, he communicated his scheme, in con- 
fidence,, to his nephew, Mr. William Duncan, then a lad of sixteen, 
who consented to become his fellow-traveller in the voyage ; and 
an agreement was entered into of departing in the above mentioned 
ship. 
The next subject of consideration was the procuring of funds; 
and as weaving presented the most eligible plan for this purpose, 
to the loom Wilson applied himself, for four months, with a dili- 
gence and economy almost surpassing belief ; the whole of his ex- 
penses during this period amounting to less than one shilling per 
week. 
All matters being finally arranged, he set out on foot for Port 
Patrick, whence he embarked for Ireland. On reaching Belfast it 
was found that the ship had her complement of passengers; but, 
rather than remain, after so much exertion, Wilson and his compa- 
nion consented to sleep upon deck, and, consequently, they were 
permitted to depart in the ship, which sailed about the middle of 
May, and arrived at Newcastle, in the state of Delaware, on the 
fourteenth of July, 1794. 
We now behold Alexander Wilson in a strange land; without 
an acquaintance on whose counsels and hospitality he could rely in 
that state of uncertainty to which, having no particular object in 
view, he was of course subjected ; without a single letter of intro- 
