234 LIVINGSTON. [Dec. 15, 1856. 



butiiig much to our knowledge of the habits of the people, have 

 scarcely made any addition to the science of physical geography ; but 

 as the pioneer of sound knowledge, who, by astronomical observa- 

 tions, has determined the site of numerous places, hills, rivers, and 

 lakes, nearly all hithei-to unknown to us. 



In obtaining these results. Dr. Livingston has farther seized upon 

 every opportunity of describing to us the physical features, clima- 

 tology, and geological stracture of the coimtries he has explored, and 

 has made known their natural productions, including vast breadths 

 of sugar-cane and vine-producing lands. Pointing out many new 

 sources of commerce, as yet unknown to the enterprise of the British 

 merchant, he gives us a clear insight into the language, manners, 

 and habits* of numerous tribes, and explains to us the difi'erent dis- 

 eases of the people, demonstrating how their maladies vary with 

 different conditions of physical geography and atmospheric causes. 



Let me also say that he has realised, by positive research, that 

 which was necfessarily a bare hypothesis, and has proved the inte- 

 rior of Southern Africa to be a plateau traversed by a network of 

 lakes and rivers, the waters of which, deflected in various direc- 

 tions by slight elevations, escape to the eastern and western 

 oceans, by passing through deep rents in the hilly, flanking tracts. 

 He teaches us that these last high grounds, differing essentially from 

 the elevated central region, as well as from the rich alluvial deltas 

 of the coasts, are really salubrious, or, to use his own language, are 

 perfect sanatoria. 



I have thus alluded, in the briefest manner, to the leading addi- 

 tions to our knowledge, which have been brought before you by 

 Dr. Livingston. The reading of the last letters, addressed to myself, 

 was, by the direction of my lamented predecessor. Admiral Beechey, 

 deferred until the arrival of the great traveller ; in order that the 

 just curiosity of my associates might be gratified by having it in 

 their power to interrogate him upon subjects of such deep import- 

 ance ; and, above all, that we might commit no mistakes in hastily 

 constructing maps from immature data ; certain sketch maps having 

 been sent to us, before it was possible to calculate his observations 

 and reduce them to order. 



Passing then from this meagre outline of the results to science, 

 what must be our feelings as men, when we mark the fidelity with 

 which Dr. Livingston kept his promise to the natives who, having 

 accompanied him to St. Paul de Loando, were reconducted by him 

 from that city to their homes ? On this head my predecessors and 

 myself have not failed, whenever an opportunity occurred, to testify 

 our deep respect for such noble conduct. Bare fortitude and viiiue 



