During 'little over two years in America' Weld was 'often guided by Indians' in his explorations of 'the vast forests and great rivers'. But as a gentleman traveller 'he mixed in the best society' while in the towns and met George Washington. 'His descriptions were influential because they were relatively early and were long included in compilations of travellers' reports on the United States . despite his general lack of sympathy with the American patriots' In 1795, Weld found himself distressed with the conditions in europe and set out on a fact finding mission to North America to ascertain whether in case of future emergency, any part of those territories might be looked forward to, as an eligible and agreeable place of abode. He traveled through the states of Pennsylvania, Delware, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York. He then traveled to Montreal and Quebec along the St. Lawrence to Kingston and Niagara.