ALEXANDER WILSON. 
XXXVU 
stone, and taught in the village school-house. He had the merit, 
while there, of studying several branches of liberal education, 
and of reaching, by his exertions, to considerable proficiency. He 
advanced so far in mathematics as to bear some note in the 
science, and, by his knowledge of surveying, was enabled to 
improve his income, during the leisure school hours. He also 
took a lead in a debating society, which the recollection of his 
essays in the Pantheon of Edinburgh, perhaps, gave him some claim 
to direct. It was conducted nearly in the same manner. The 
subjects proposed chiefly related to agriculture, such as, “ Is the 
cultivation of the vine an object worthy of the attention of the 
American farmer ? ” This hard course of study, however, im- 
paired his health, and we learn, from his letters to Mr Ord, that 
on this account he was obliged to resign his situation twice. He 
finally left Milestone, and taught and wrought his way to Bloomfield, 
New Jersey. Becoming more discouraged with the country and 
his prospects, on his establishment here, he thus writes to his 
friend Ord : — 
“ Bloomfield, near Newark, 
New Jersey , 12 th July , 1801. 
“ My dear Sir, — If this letter reach you, it will inform you that 
I keep school at twelve shillings per quarter, York currency, with 
thirty-five scholars, and pay twelve shillings per week for board, 
and four shillings additional for washing, and four shillings per 
week for my horse. After I parted with Davidson, the Quakers not 
coming to any agreement about engaging me, I left Washington, 
and steered for New York, through a country entirely unknown to 
me ; visited many wretched hovels of schools by the way ; in two 
days reached York, and from every person who knew the Mitchells, 
received the most disagreeable accounts of them, viz. that James 
had, by too great a fondness for gaming, and sometimes taking his 
scholars along with him, entirely ruined his reputation, and lost his 
business ; and, from his own mouth, I learned that he expected 
jail every day, for debts to a considerable amount. And William 
is lost for every good purpose in this world, and abandoned to the 
most shameful and excessive drinking, swearing, and wretched 
company ; he called on me last Thursday morning, in company 
