XXXVI 
LIFE OF 
beef, ninepence of their currency, which is about sixpence of ours; 
shoes, two dollars and a half ; while house-rents are most exorbi- 
tantly 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 copperplate 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 period, in certain places. It is 
probable that he tried various schemes of bettering his fortune ; 
and though none was very successful, he did not, at this time, lose 
all hope. In a letter to Mr Crichton, he says, “ Let no man who 
is stout and healthy be discouraged. If he is a weaver, and cannot 
get employment at his own business, there are a thousand others 
which will offer, where he will save as much as he can in Scot- 
land, and live ten times better.” 
He travelled again as a pedlar, on a sort of trading expedition, 
with considerable success ; and during his journey through New 
Jersey, kept a journal, in which is sketched, with considerable 
spirit, the manner of the inhabitants, and the habits of the most 
remarkable quadrupeds and birds. We next hear of him in a 
school at Frankfort, Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Mile- 
