1856-57-] FIRST VISIT HOME. 213 



" He was always careful as to dress and appearance. This was 

 his habit in Africa too, and with Mrs. Livingstone it was the same. 

 They thought that this was fitted to secure respect for themselves, and 

 that it was for the good of the natives too, as it was so difficult to 

 impress them with proper ideas on the subject of dress. 



"Dr. and Mrs. Livingstone were much attached, and thoroughly 

 understood each other. The Doctor was sportive and fond of a joke, 

 and Mrs. Livingstone entered into his humour. Mrs. Livingstone was 

 terribly anxious about her husband when he was in Africa, but before 

 others she concealed her emotion. In society both were reserved 

 and quiet. Neither of them cared for grandeur ; it was a great trial 

 to Dr. Livingstone to go to a grand dinner. Yet in his quiet way he 

 would exercise an influence at the dinner-table. He told us that once 



at a dinner at Lord 's, every one was running down London 



tradesmen. Dr. Livingstone quietly remarked that though he was a 

 stranger in London, he knew one tradesman of whose honesty he was 

 thoroughly assured ; and if there was one such in his little circle, 

 surely there must be many more. 



-" He used to rise early : about seven he had a cup of tea or coffee, 

 and then he set to work with his writing. He had not the appearance 

 of a very strong man." 



In spite of his literary work, the stream of public 

 honours and public engagements began to flow very 

 strongly. The Prince Consort granted him an inter- 

 view, soon after his arrival, in presence of some of the 

 younger members of the Royal Family. In March it 

 was agreed to present him with the freedom of the City 

 of London, in a box of the value of fifty guineas, and in 

 May the presentation took place. Most of his public 

 honours, however, were reserved till the autumn. 



The Missionary Travels was published in November 



1857, and the success of the book was quite remarkable. 



Writing to Mr. Maclear, 10th November 1857, he says, 



after an apology for delay : — 



" You must ascribe my culpable silence to ' aberration.' I am out 

 of my orbit, rather, and you must have patience till I come in again. 

 The book is out to-day, and I am going to Captain Washington to see 

 about copies to yourself, the Governor, the Bishop, Fairbairn, Thomp- 

 son, Eutherfoord, and Saul Solomon. 1 Ten thousand were taken by 



1 Livingstone was quite lavish with presentation copies ; every friend on earth 

 seemed to be included in his list. He tried to remember every one who had shown 

 kindness to himself, and particularly to his wife and children. 



