14 JOURNAL OF THE 



settlement at Gnadenburg, in Silesia, where his acquisitions were 

 turned to good account in various ways connected with his profes- 

 sion. Besides parochial duties he again discharged the office of 

 teacher in bringing forward many of the young men of his commu- 

 nity who were preparing for the duties of his own calling. Upon 

 his character as a preacher there is the less necessity that we should 

 comment, even were this the place and were we competent to such 

 an undertaking, because, in that capacity, his brethren hav^e already 

 exhibited to the public a view of his meritorious labour. We would 

 .merely state that, considered as literary performances, his sermons 

 were characterized by the utmost simplicity, both in style and de- 

 livery, and were addressed more to the heart than to the head. His 

 discourses were invariably practical, not argumentative — experi- 

 mental, not speculative. 



The period of which we are speaking, it will be recollected, was 

 that of Bonaparte's continental wars, and Germany the scene of 

 his operations. Von Schweiuitz was, therefore, with his peaceful 

 flock, brought into immediate proximity to the actors in those tre- 

 mendous conflicts. But, though troops were quartered in Gnaden- 

 burg, his happy disposition and winning deportment gave him such 

 ascendency over all ranks as to avoid causes of collision, and to ren- 

 der nim a general favorite with strangers. 



In 1808 von Schweinitz was invited to Gnadau, in Saxony, where 

 in the discharge of duties similar to those at Gnadenburg, and with 

 equally distinguished success, he continued to be engaged until 1812, 

 when he was appointed by his brethren general agent of their church 

 in the Southern States of this Union. Previously to repairing to 

 the scene of his duties he formed a matrimonial alliance, at Niesky, 

 with Louisa Amelia le Doux, whose parents, descendants from highly 

 respect'Able French ancestors, resided at Stettin, in Prussian Pome- 

 rania. The continental system of Napoleon at that time rendering 

 direct communications with this country extremely hazardous, they 

 were compelled, in crder to embark for the United States, to take 

 the route through Denmark and Sweden. This circumstance was 

 not wholly without its advantage; for on arriving at Kiel, in Hol- 

 steln, an occasion presented itself for a protracted stay, during 

 which von Schwfinitz became acquainted with several learned men 

 connected with the University in that place, and the mutual satis- 

 faction was such as to induce the institution during the same year 

 to confer on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy. 



About the period of their final embarkation the United States had 

 declared war against Great Britain; the seas swarmed with priva- 



