PIONEERS OF SCIENCE IN AMERICA. 



irksome, but the happy disposition and winning deportment of 

 the young pastor had much influence in preventing collisions. 

 The next year he was invited to Gnadau, in Saxony, where he 

 remained four 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 married, at Niesky, Louiza Amelia Le Doux, who belonged 

 to a French family residing at Stettin. The continental sys- 

 tem of Napoleon rendering direct communication with the 

 United States extremely hazardous, Mr. von Schweinitz and 

 his wife were compelled 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 

 travellers 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, moreover, so impressed the authori- 

 ties of this seat of learning that they conferred upon him the 

 honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy. When, at length, 

 the voyage was begun the United States had declared war 

 with England and the sea swarmed with privateers. The pas- 

 sage 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 cannonade 

 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 



