ACEOSS AFEICA. [Chap. 



1872. After the Star was put out of commission, I ^vas appointed 



to the Steam Reserve at Slieerness; and my efforts to obtain 

 more active emi^loyment being ineffectual, I volunteered my 

 services to the Royal Geographical Society to go in search of 

 Dr. Livingstone, and render him any assistance possible, it be- 

 ing supposed at that moment that the expedition under Mr. 

 Stanley had failed. 



Soon after this, subscriptions were opened for the "Living- 

 stone Search Expedition ;" but it was not my fortune to be se- 

 lected by the Royal Geographical Society, the command being 

 given' to Lieutenant L. S. Dawson, R.N., an officer eminently 

 fitted for the post both by his scientific attainments and i^hys- 

 ical powers. 



L'nfortunately, when this exjDedition was about to start from 

 Bagamoyo, it was deterred from proceeding farther by the news 

 brought to the coast by Mr. Stanley, of the New York Herald. 

 This was to the effect that Livingstone had already been re- 

 lieved, and objected to any "slave expedition'' being sent to 

 him. In consequence of this unfortunate misapprehension of 

 Dr. Livingstone's dispatches. Lieutenant Dawson, suj)posing 

 that his expedition would no longer be required, resigned the 

 command. 



Lieutenant Henn, R.]^., then took charge, with the full in- 

 tention of proceeding, but was also persuaded to throw it up, 

 though much against his wish. 



UlDon Oswell Livingstone, a son of the doctor, the leadership 

 then devolved. But after a time he renounced the idea of pro- 

 ceeding up country to join his father; and thus a most care- 

 fully organized exj^edition, which possessed most, if not all, the 

 requisites for a complete success, was abandoned. 



Mr. New, another member, withdrew with Lieutenant Daw- 

 son, and the services of a gentleman well versed in African 

 character, having a competent knowledge of Kisuahili, and ac- 

 customed to African travel, were thus lost. I may here men- 

 tion how great was my regret, soon after arriving at Loanda, to 

 hear of the death of Mr. New. lie was a single-minded, brave, 

 and honest man, who devoted himself to the task of bettering 

 the condition of the natives of Africa, and in so doing sacrificed 



a valuable life. 



