TAYLOR.

ALTHOUGH GEORGE TAYLOR, during his life time, took a prominent part in the political affairs of the times, and was a man much esteemed and honoured, he has left behind him scarce a trace, by which we can discover his sentiments or actions. Nothing can better convince us of the uncertainty attending the minute events recorded in civil history. Fifty years have not passed away, since a thousand facts might have been obtained from numerous and authentic sources; yet now we are reduced to the uncertain recollections of a few old men, or the slight and mutilated circumstances which industry may gather, from the fleeting records of past times.

Of the early life of Mr. Taylor, we have been able to discover almost nothing. He was born in the year 1716. He was an Irishman by birth, and is said to have been the son of a respectable clergyman of that country, who gave him a better education than was usually bestowed, in those days, on youths who were destined to make their own fortunes in the world, and who had no advancement to hope either

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from patronage or wealth. He was quick, active and intelligent; and his father thinking his talents might be turned to some account, determined to edueate him for the profession of medicine, of which science it is believed he actually commenced the study. His turn of mind, however, did not fit him for the labours which such pursuits require; he was soon disgusted with the slow progress that he made, and determined to seek his fortune, in a life of more variety and adventure. What led him particularly to select America, as the scene of his new efforts, we know not; but hearing of a vessel about to sail for Philadelphia or New York, he deserted his medical studies, and without sixpence in his pocket, embarked as a redemptioner on board of her.

On his arrival in America, he bound himself for a term of years as a labourer to one Savage, who paid the expenses he had incurred in his passage from Ireland. This person was the owner or occupier of some extensive iron-works, at Durham, a village on the river Delaware, eight or ten miles below Easton, and to that establishment Taylor accompanied him.

Immediately on his arrival, he was set to work, as a "filler," that is, a workman employed to throw coal into the furnace when in blast. He had not been accustomed to such rude work, and this was soon discovered from the blisters on his hands. The fact was mentioned by some of his associates to Savage, and he, taking compassion on the lad, whom he had found to be remarkably intelligent and educated

beyond his present situation, asked him if he could not handle a pen better than a shovel. Taylor agreed joyfully to the change, was installed as a clerk, and soon made himself in this situation, a most important member of the establishment. He retained it several years, and when at length Savage died, married his widow, and became the proprietor of the whole concern. Here, by prudent management and great industry he contrived to amass a very considerable fortune, but either allured by more promising prospects, or tired of his old abode, he afterwards purchased a considerable estate on the shores of the river Lehigh, in the county of Northampton, and built a large house upon it, where he fixed his residence.

Mr. Taylor had not been long an inhabitant of Northampton, before he was called into public life, In the provincial assembly which met at Philadelphia, on the fifteenth of October, 1764, we find him representing that county, and placed immediately on the committee of aggrievances, one of the most important and useful situations at that time, and still more so at a future period. He also took an active part in the discussion of the great question which then agitated the province, the alteration of the charter, and the reformation of the proprietary government, into which many serious abuses had crept. In the month of June, 1765, the speaker of assembly had received the proposal of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts Bay, for a general congress of delegates at New York in the ensuing au

from patronage or wealth. He was quick, active and intelligent; and his father thinking his talents might be turned to some account, determined to educate him for the profession of medicine, of which science it is believed he actually commenced the study. His turn of mind, however, did not fit him for the labours which such pursuits require; he was soon disgusted with the slow progress that he made, and determined to seek his fortune, in a life of more variety and adventure. What led him particularly to select America, as the scene of his new efforts, we know not; but hearing of a vessel about to sail for Philadelphia or New York, he deserted his medical studies, and without sixpence in his pocket, embarked as a redemptioner on board of her.

On his arrival in America, he bound himself for a term of years as a labourer to one Savage, who paid the expenses he had incurred in his passage from Ireland. This person was the owner or occupier of some extensive iron-works, at Durham, a village on the river Delaware, eight or ten miles below Easton, and to that establishment Taylor accompanied him.

Immediately on his arrival, he was set to work, as a "filler," that is, a workman employed to throw coal into the furnace when in blast. He had not been accustomed to such rude work, and this was soon discovered from the blisters on his hands. The fact was mentioned by some of his associates to Saand he, taking compassion on the lad, whom he had found to be remarkably intelligent and educated

vage,