VISIT TO SOUTH AFRICA. 
365 
andy according to the usual practice in a man of war, the Cap- 
tain dined with the officers on Sunday's, when Mr. Somerset and 
I were likewise invited. 
25th. The wind becoming more moderate, the ship's motion 
permitted me to spend my time quietly in the cabin, preparing 
letters to send from St. Helena to the Cape. I began likewise 
to make a circumstantial report of all my proceedings at the Cape, 
for the Directors of our Missions. 
26th. I wrote to my highly valued friend, the Rev. Mr. Hesse, 
at Capetown, having been led into a recapitulation of many sub- 
jects, which occurred in conversation between us at his house. 
Part of my letter related to the Church to which I belong. Con- 
cessions are the best defence, where we are, or have formerly 
been, to blame, in expressions or proceedings, founded on mis- 
taken notions. Such concessions have been repeatedly made, 
but in general to little purpose; and we must be. satisfied to hear 
the old, wretched, and contradictory accusations, repeated in 
Accounts of all Religions, Encyclopedias, Notes on Church 
History," and other compilations. Be it so, since it cannot be 
otherwise expected; let us live them down, since we have not 
been able to write them down. To some, however, who wilfully 
continue to deal in that species of slander against the Brethren, 
or other religious communities, the answer of a friend of mine, a 
nobleman in Saxony,. to his brethren, the States of Upper Lusatia, 
assembled at the Diet at Bautzen, may be given^, consistently with 
truth. With a view to irritate his feelings, or, as the vulgar 
phrase is, to quiz him, they pretended to believe all the infamous 
stories, related by certain authors concerning the practices of the 
Brethren at Herrnhut, representing them as a very profligate 
and licentious sect; and challenged him to deny them. " Pray, 
gentlemen," he replied, " do not assert, that you believe these 
things, for I know you all so well, that if you really did believe, 
that ail manner of licentiousness might be practised at Herrn- 
