Dec. 15, 1856.] LIVINGSTON. 249 



in tho presence of the PortuguesG Minister, my gratiljftde for the kindness I 

 received from liis countrymen during my residence in'Tlie Province of Angola. 



But the consequences resulting from Dr. Livingston's journey, are calculated 

 to contribute so much to the interests of the Portuguese African Colonies, that 

 I am sure in time, they will be more than repaid for the kindness they showed 

 him. Dr. Livingston's arrival at Angola I look upon, as one of those opportune 

 events, which sometimes have an important influence on the destinies of a 

 country ; at no period could such a visit have been more fortunate. The minds 

 of men were unsettled in consequence of the depressed condition of the peculiar 

 traffic Avhich had so long been paramount, and the attention of thinking persons 

 was turned to legitimate trade and the development of the resources of the 

 country. Farther, the Portuguese Government had passed a measure for regis- 

 tering and gradually emancipating the slaves in their colonies. Those who take 

 an interest in the "progress of the African race will be glad to hear of this fact. 



Dr. Livingston arrived about this time, and showed that by opening up a 

 communication with the interior of Africa, a rich trade might be carried on, that 

 would more than compensate for the loss the colony was likely to sustain from 

 the abolition of the slave trade. The Doctor prophesied that, very soon after his 

 journey had become generally known, an attempt would be made on the part of 

 the tribes in the interior, to communicate with the coast. This propliecy has 

 been fulfilled ; for 1 learn from a communication from Mr. Gabriel that a caravan 

 of negroes, fitted out by Sekeletu and led by one of the Arabs, who crossed from 

 the coast of Zanzibar to Benguela in 1851, had arrived at Loando by way of 

 Bihe. This expedition has not, it would seem, been very profitable, owing to 

 causes incident, I should hope, only to first attempts ; but I trust that expe- 

 rience will render the next more successful. I shal! not, at this late hour, read 

 Mr. Gabriel's very interesting communication, but limit myself to stating the 

 fact it announces, which proves that the inland tribes are anxious to open up a 

 communication with the coast, and shows how correctly Dr. Livingston calcu- 

 lated the result. 



I wish to mention another result of Dr. Livingston's visit. At Loanda we had 

 but one small newspaper ; the Doctor wrote a series of articles for it, which 

 appears to have stimulated a literary tiibe, and you here see the ' Loando 

 Aurora, a Literary Journal,' printed at the Government press, and, I believe, 

 one of the fruits of Dr. Livingston's visit to that city. 



The President. — I have now only to congratulate the Meeting upon having 

 received so much instruction from Dr. Livingston. I may well say he has 

 communicated to us the outlines of a book, which I hope will soon be published 

 for the information of the British public. I am glad to add that there is 

 no person fuller of gratitude to the Portuguese than Dr. Livingston himself. 

 If he has not hei"e expatiated upon that subject, I can testify that in private 

 letters which he has addressed to me, he has uniformly dwelt upon the very 

 kind and liberal conduct of the Portuguese Authorities, officers, and people to 

 himself and party, lie was also most kindly received by General Hay, com- 

 manding Her Majesty's forces in the Mauritius, and restored to health by the 

 hospitality of our countryman. 



The Resolute. — The President finally announced to the Meeting that, at the 

 request of the Council, he had invited Captain Hartstene and the American 

 officers of the ' Hesolute ' to dine with the Society prior to their departure from 

 this country. The day had not been appointed as yet,"as Captain Hartstene had 

 been suddenly called to his ship— Her Majesty the Queen having signified her 

 intention to visit the ' Resolute ' on the next day. 



