JAMES WILSON.

JAMES WILSON was born in the Lowlands of Scotland. His family was respectable, but not wealthy, and resided in the neighbourhood of St. Andrews, formerly the metropolis of the Pictish kingdom, and well known for its university, founded in 1411. His father was a reputable farmer, and a man of character: that he was in good circumstances, appears probable, from the education given to his son; but he is said to have injured his affairs by the same passion for speculation which that son unfortunately inherited. After the death of his father, his mother again married, and must have been in straitened circumstances, as Mr. Wilson frequently sent her percuniary aid from this country, even when he 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 Phila

delphia 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.

After two years ardent application to the study of his profession, Mr. Wilson first settled in Reading, but soon removed to Carlisle, where he became an eminent counsellor at law, and obtained considerable practice, previous to the revolutionary struggle. He afterwards went to Annapolis, in Maryland, and after remaining there one year, removed to Philadelphia, in 1778, where he continued to reside during the remainder of his life.

At a time when universal agitation prevailed amongst all classes of society with respect to the disputes existing between Great Britain and her North American colonies, and when the minds of those best qualified, by nature and education, to enter on the subject, were intensely excited by patriotic resentments and gloomy anticipations, it was not to be expected that Mr. Wilson would remain an idle spectator of passing events. He commenced his political career as soon as the British government began their oppressions. He wrote and published many able and luminous essays in favour of the rights of America, and never swerved from his attachment to

our cause.

Mr. Wilson was a member of the provincial convention of Pennsylvania, which met early in the summer of 1774, a few months previous to the meeting of the first general congress. During its session, his talents and political science became known throughout the city of Philadelphia, and it being understood that the

assembly, at its first meeting, would appoint delegates to congress, the convention recommended that Mr. Dickinson and Mr. Wilson should be among the number. This recommendation was rejected; a measure ascribed to the influence of the speaker, Mr. Galloway, an eminent lawyer of Philadelphia, who joined the British when they took possession of the city, who had been long at enmity with Mr. Dickinson, and who had differed from both of them in political sentiments.

When military movements were first made, Mr. Wilson, then resident in Carlisle, was chosen colonel of a regiment of militia, raised in the county of Cumberland. He acted in that capacity when occasions demanded his services, and the public stores and magazines in Carlisle were committed to his charge; but he was never in active service, owing, probably, to his very frequent civil. appointments. He was, also, a commissioner to treat with the Indians, a duty which he executed successfully.

Notwithstanding the opposition which Mr. Wilson had encountered, when proposed as a delegate to the first continental congress, which met in September, 1774, he was, on the sixth of May, 1775, together with Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Willing, added to the Pennsylvania delegation, by the unanimous voice of the assembly, and accordingly took his seat in the second congress, which met at Philadelphia, on the tenth of May, 1775. To this honourable and distinguished station he was successively re-appointed, on the third of November, 1775, the twentieth of July, 1776, and the tenth of March, 1777.

At a meeting of the general assembly, held on the fourteenth of September, 1777, the house resumed the consideration of the choosing new delegates to serve the state in congress, when it was resolved, that new delegates "be immediately elected instead of Jonathan B. Smith, esquire, who has resigned, and of James Wilson and George Clymer, esquires, who are hereby superseded." Their places were accordingly supplied by Joseph Reed, William Clingan, and Dr. Samuel Duffield. Thus early did the spirit of party deprive our country of the active services of its best and most efficient advocates. So early as the month of January preceding, Mr. Wilson was apprized by his friend, Robert Morris, of the plan in agitation to remove him from office. In a letter, dated the thirty-first of that month, Mr. Morris makes the following remarks; "I am told our assembly do not intend you shall be in the new list of delegates. I am too busy to attend, or I would contest the matter