CHAPTER XV. 



AGAIN IN AFEICA. 



Results of Efforts at Universities— Universities' Mission — Livingstone Appointed 

 British Consul — Interview with the Queen — Reasons for Accepting the 

 Governmental Appointment — Love for his Mother — Care of her — Government 

 Appropriation — The Farewell Banquet — Distinguished Assembly — Speeches — 

 Sir Roderick Murchison — Livingstone's Address — Arrangements Completed — 

 Members of the Expedition — The Steam Launch — The " Pearl " — The De- 

 parture from England — Livingstone's Responsibility — What the Government 

 Expected — Letters by the Way — Arrival at the Mouth of the Zambesi. 



The effort of Dr. Livingstone at the great universities was 

 not only an occasion full of complimentary attentions ; it was an 

 occasion which did not pass from the hearts of the noble men 

 with whom he had held loving counsel, and he was rejoiced to 

 witness speedy preparations on the part of Oxford and Cam- 

 bridge, in which they were joined by the Universities of Dur- 

 ham and Dublin, for establishing a mission in Africa, to be 

 known as the " Universities' Mission to Central Africa." 



The time was now drawing- nigh when he felt that he could 

 no longer indulge himself in the comforts of home, even though, 

 while there, his heart and hands were full of labors. He had 

 been appointed by her majesty " British Consul to the Portu- 

 guese Possessions in South Africa," a position which he was 

 constrained to accept, because it afforded facilities for prosecuting 

 his work of opening Africa to the light of the gospel, which he 

 could not enjoy as the missionary of any board. There was also 

 a demand on him to assume relations which would be more 

 remunerative. His aged mother needed his aid, and his noble 

 heart would not excuse himself from so holy a duty as that of 

 providing for the comfort of his mother, by even the important 

 duties of his distant mission. He loved the Africans, but he 

 did not feel himself called to suffer the light to go out in the 

 home of his mother that he might kindle one on the hearth of 

 his adopted brethren. The little incident, coming we hardly 



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