ALEXANDER WILSON. 
XXX111 
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 influence of the wealthy con- 
verted 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 
shew 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 — both in good health. We sailed in the ship Swift, from 
Belfast Loch, on Friday the 23d of May, about six in the morning, 
at which time I would have wrote you ; but, hoping we would 
have a speedy passage, and feeling for the anxiety I feared you 
might be under in knowing we were at sea, I purposely omitted 
writing till our arrival in America. I fear that by this conduct I 
have given you more unhappiness than I am aware of; if I have, 
I hope you will forgive me, for I intended otherwise. We had 
350 passengers, — a mixed multitude of men, women, and children. 
Each berth between decks was made to hold them all, with scarce 
a foot for each. At first sight, I own, it appeared to me almost 
impossible that the one-half of them could survive ; but, on looking 
around, and seeing some whom I thought not much stouter than 
myself, I thought I might have a chance as well as the rest of 
some of them. I asked Willy if he was willing, and he saying he 
was, we went up to Belfast immediately for our clothes ; and, in 
* This letter is now in possession of his sister, Mrs Bell, to whose kindness 
I am indebted for its use. 
