land. ed in polis rsity, and a , ap ut he n for r the have ently was himself much embarrassed. Mr. Wilson received an excellent classical education. After leaving the grammar school, he studied at Glasgow and Edinburgh, and previously, for a short period, at St. Andrews. It was under the tuition of the famous Dr. Blair, in rhetoric, and of the not less celebrated Dr. Watts, in rhetoric and logic, that he laid the foundation of the celebrity which he subsequently acquired, as a powerful orator, and almost irresistible logician. His youthful character was correct and praise-worthy. Soon after the completion of his education, and without selecting or embracing any profession, he resolved to emigrate to America, and endeavour, by the exercise of the talents, industry, and integrity, which he amply possessed, to realize, in a new country, that independence which his own could not afford. He arrived at New York in about the twenty-first year of his age, bringing with him an excellent classical and scientific education, and attainments especially conspicuous in history and natural law. In the beginning of the year 1766 he reached Philadelphia, with highly recommendatory letters to gentlemen of that city, one of whom was Dr. Richard Peters, rector of Christ and St. Peter's churches, by whom he was particularly patronised, and introduced as an usher into the Philadelphia college and academy. Dr. Peters had been the secretary of the province, and, during forty years, the confidential friend and agent of the proprietaries. He was an original trustee of the college and academy, and being a man of learning, and zealous in its cause, was a competent judge of the capacity of any person presenting himself as a tutor, or professor. Mr. Wilson was considered by the trustee, before whom he was examined, as the best classical scholar who had offered as a tutor in the Latin department of the college. In this office he only remained a few months; when, through the instrumentality of his early, familiar, and constant friends, bishop White and judge Peters, he obtained the situation of student of law, in the office of Mr. John Dickinson. The funds necessary to accomplish this object, and for maintenance during the prosecution of his studies, consisted of money taken on interest, by the mortgage of a farm which he purchased from his relative, Mr. Annan, a seceding minister, who, it is said, received satisfaction for the property, by assurances made good in Scotland. |