836 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



years, performing the duties of his clerical office and teaching the 

 boys of the community who were destined for learned professions. 



In 1812 Mr. von Schweinitz, being then thirty-two years of 

 age, was appointed general agent of the Moravian Church in the 

 southern United States. Before starting for this country he mar- 

 ried, at Niesky, Louiza Amelia Le Doux, who belonged to a 

 French family residing at Stettin. The continental system of 

 Napoleon rendering direct communication with the United States 

 extremely hazardous, Mr. von Schweinitz and his wife were com- 

 pelled to go through Denmark to Sweden and embark there. The 

 trouble of making this roundabout journey was, as it chanced, 

 not without its compensation. The travelers were obliged to 

 make a stay of some length at Kiel, in Holstein, during which 

 von Schweinitz formed an enjoyable acquaintance with several of 

 the professors in the university there. His attainments, more- 

 over, so impressed the authorities of this seat of learning that 

 they conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Phi- 

 losophy. When, at length, the voyage was begun the United 

 States had declared war with England and the sea swarmed with 

 privateers. The passage abounded with thrilling adventures and 

 providential escapes. While still in European waters the vessel 

 fell in with a French privateer and narrowly avoided capture by 

 taking refuge under the guns of a Danish fort. A fierce cannon- 

 ade between the Danes and the Frenchman followed, many of the 

 balls passing over and through the ship. Later it was actually 

 captured by a British frigate, but escaped in the darkness and fog 

 of a stormy night. Much tempestuous weather was met with, 

 and the climax came in a terrible storm which dismasted the 

 vessel. Nevertheless, it finally entered port in safety, being the 

 only one of fifteen or twenty American vessels sailing from 

 Sweden on the same day that ever reached America. 



The principal church settlement of the district to which von 

 Schweinitz had been assigned was at Salem, N. C, and there he 

 took up his residence. Although not a native of North Carolina, 

 he had a strong predilection for that State, having often heard 

 his father and grandfather speak of their visits to its early settle- 

 ments. His official duties were very arduous. He was a member 

 of the Governing Board of the Moravian Churches in North Caro- 

 lina, a trustee of the Salem Female Academy, the administrator 

 of the very large landed estates owned by the church in the State, 

 and he frequently preached in Salem and other places. Yet he 

 found time to continue his botanical researches, which he could 

 now carry on in a dominion, scientifically speaking, all his own. 

 On one of his exploring trips he discovered among the Sauraton 

 Mountains, in Stokes County, a most beautiful waterfall, which 

 still bears his name. Among his scientific correspondents at 



