“ He found among some books he had brought with him one called a "Printer's Grammar," containing rude cuts of a printer's press; and by studying this book diligently for several days, he succeeded, with the help of a Negro carpenter, in putting the press into working order. He became captain of a corps of volunteers, and manager of a company of young officers, who had agreed to act plays for the benefit of the poorest of the loyal Refugees from Carolina and Georgia; and occasionally an actor himself. ”

“ Henry Lawrens, some time President of the American Congress, in the form of a letter, under the signature of Marcus, to the printer of the Public Advertiser.
In 1781 he wrote a political paper of some importance, by the desire of the Commandant of the Garrison of Charlestown, the present Gen. Nesbitt Balfour, on the following occasion. Men of rank in the American service, after having been taken prisoners and sent to their homes under their military paroles, used to make no scruple to appear again in arms against the British Government. ”

“ He at that time laboured under an inflammatory affection of the chest, and it was feared that when this abated, an effusion of fluid into some part of the cavity of the chest might take place; but it was believed that, though his recovery might be slow, and not complete, he would ultimately recover, and enjoy life on terms on which it would have been a blessing. ”

“ This determined him to adopt a most abstemious mode of living; so that when he was at home, which was perhaps four or five days in the week, he lived upon milk and vegetable substances, and took a very small quantity of these: he had no subsequent attack of apoplexy. From the time, however, of his recovery from that ailment, his health was disordered in various ways, unconnected with his previous illness, and perhaps unconnected with one another. In 1812 be commenced some experiments, with a view of throwing light upon the nature of Dew, a subject which had long engaged his attention. ”

“ Baillie, which acquaintance ripened into a most intimate, steady, and affectionate friendship. In the spring of 1785 he spent three months at Paris, and in the autumn of that year fixed himself in London as a physician. His father, who had resided in this country from the beginning of the American war, had, during it, been so successful in business as to realize about 20,000/.; but, from giving too great credit, his circumstances became embarrassed about this time. In consequence of this Dr. Wells, at his first outset as a physician in London, was obliged to borrow of one of his friends 130/. ”

“ In this prosecution be succeeded, though opposed by two of the principal lawyers in Charlestown, and maintained his composure and self-possession in spite of every effort to load him with reproach, and to intimidate him. It would not be easy to mention an instance of greater vigour and variety of talent than the exercise, at the same time, of these numerous and different occupations displays. In December 1782, it having become necessary for the King's troops to evacuate Charlestown, he went to St. ”