346 DA VID LIVINGSTONE. [chap. xvii. 



of Portugal, especially when resident in a public capacity 

 in our African possessions, if not efficiently watched, if 

 their audacious and mischievous actions are not restrained. 

 If steps are not taken in a proper and effective manner, 

 so that they may be permitted only to do good, if 

 indeed good can come from such," etc. 



"26th Sept. — Agnes and I go to-day to Newstead Abbey, Notts. 

 Reach it about 9 P.M., and find Mr. and Mrs. Webb all I anticipated 

 and more. A splendid old mansion with a wonderful number of 

 curiosities in it, and magnificent scenery around. It was the residence 

 of Lord Byron, and his furniture is kept " [in his private rooms] "just as 

 he left it. His character does not shine. It appears to have been 

 horrid. . . . He made a drinking cup of a monk's skull found under 

 the high altar, with profane verses on the silver setting, and kept his 

 wine in the stone coffin. These Mrs. Webb buried, and all the bones 

 she could find that had been desecrated by the poet." 



In a letter to Sir Thomas Maclear he speaks of the 

 poet as one of those who, like many others — some of 

 them travellers who abused missionaries, — considered it a 

 fine thing to be thought awfully bad fellows. 



" 27th. — Went through the whole house with our kind hosts, and 

 saw all the wonders, which would require many days properly to 

 examine. . . . 



" 2d October. — Took Communion in the chapel of the Abbey. God 

 grant me to be and always to act as a true Christian. 



" 3(/. — Mr. and Mrs. Webb kindness itself personified. A blessing 

 be on them and their children from the Almighty ! " 



When first invited to reside at Newstead Abbey, Dr. 

 Livingstone declined, on the ground that he was to be 

 busy writing a book, and that he wished to have some of 

 his children with him, and in the case of Agnes, to let 

 her have music lessons. His kind friends, however, were 

 resolved that these reasons should not stand in the way, 

 and arrangements were made by them accordingly. Dr. 

 Livingstone continued to be their guest for eight months, 

 and received from them all manner of assistance. Some- 

 times Mr. and Mrs. Webb, Mrs. Goodlake (Mrs. Webb's 

 mother), and his daughter Agnes would all be busy 



