1 68 DAVID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. viii. 



astronomical observations were regularly forwarded to 

 his friend the Astronomer-Royal at the Cape, Mr. Mac- 

 lear, for verification and correction. 



Writing to Livingstone on 27th March 1854, with 

 reference to some of his earlier observations, after noticing 

 a few trifling mistakes, Mr. Maclear says : — " It is both 

 interesting and amusing to trace your improvement as an 

 observer. Some of your early observations, as you 

 remark, are rough, and the angles ascribed to objects 

 misplaced in transcribing. But upon the whole I do not 

 hesitate to assert that no explorer on record has deter- 

 mined his path with the precision you have accomplished.''" 

 A year afterwards, I lth August 1855, but with reference 

 to papers received from Sekeletu's place, Mr. Maclear 

 details what he had done in reducing his observations, 

 preparing abstracts of them, sending them to the authori- 

 ties, and publishing them in the Cape papers. He 

 informs him that Sir John Herschel placed them before 

 the Geographical Society, and that a warm eulogium on 

 his labours and discoveries, and particularly on the 

 excellent series of observations which fixed his track so 

 exactly, appeared in the President's Address. 



Then, referring to his wonderful journey to Loanda, 

 and remarkable escapes, he says : — " Nor is your escape 

 with life from so many attacks of fever other than miracu- 

 lous. Perhaps there is nothing on record of the kind, 

 and it can only be explained by Divine interference for a 

 good purpose. O may life be continued to you, my dear 

 friend ! You have accomplished more for the happiness 

 of mankind than has, been done by all the African 

 travellers hitherto put together." 



Mr. Maclear's reference to Livingstone's work, in 

 writing to Sir John Herschel, was in these terms : — " Such 

 a man deserves every encouragement in the power of his 

 country to give. He has done that which few other travel- 

 lers in Africa can boast of — he has fixed his geographical 



