VISIT TO SOUT[I AFltlCA. 53 
Hesse, who showed me the cliurch and premises belonging to the 
Lutheran congregation in this place. It is but of late years, that 
the Dutch would permit the Lutherans to have an establishment 
at the Cape. The spirit of toleration, introduced with the English 
government, has now set them quite at liberty; and it redounds 
much to their honour, that, though a small congregation, and not 
rich, they have made a most comfortable provision for their mi- 
nister, and spared no expense in erecting a handsome church and 
parsoiiage-house. Mr, Hesse's garden is fdled with a great va- 
riety of singular plants, trees, and shrubs, the produce both of 
this, and other southern regions. In his botanical researches, 
which serve him as a relaxation from the laborious duties of his 
station, he is encoiuaged and assisted by the friendship and skill 
of his neighbour Mr. Polemaii; and it were much to be wished, 
that men so eminently qualilied, would favour the lovers of bo- 
tany with the result of their discoveries iu that delightful branch 
6f natural history. 
12th. This morning I had some conversation with the Reverend 
Mr. M'Kenny, of the methodist community. He has been sent 
out to form a society of that persuasion at the Cape; but meets 
with difficulties, as his commission does not seem to be a mission 
to the heathen, but chiefly to regard the white settlers. The 
Governor is willing to promote every attempt to introduce Chris- 
tianity among the heathen ; but to the multiplying of different reli- 
gious sects at Capetown, many persons have great objections. 
At noon, I set out Avith Mr. Alexander and his lady for Stellen- 
bosch. His travelling waggon was drawn bj eight mules. The 
road to the half- vv^ay-house is through deep sands and a wild waste, 
but in most places covered w ith bushes and flowering shrubs, whicli 
though the summer was far advanced, still showed themselves w ith 
considerable splendour. The people at the house cooked some 
victuals, which we had brought with us, being themselves unpre- 
pared for visitors. The nearer we approached the mountains, the 
more magnificent their rugged outline appeared, reminding me^ 
