SIR RODERICK MURC HI SON'S SPEECH. 237 



flanking tracts. He teaches us that these last high grounds, differing essen- 

 tially from the elevated central region, as well as from the rich alluvial deltas 

 of the coasts, are really salubrious, or, to use his own language, are perfect 

 sanatoria. 



I have thus alluded, in the briefest manner, to the leading additions to 

 our knowledge which have been brought before you by Dr. Livingstone. 

 The reading of the last letters, addressed to myself, was, by the direction of 

 my lamented predecessor, Admiral Beechey, deferred until the arrival of the 

 great traveller ; in order that the just curiosity of my associates might be 

 gratified by having it in their power to interrogate him upon subjects of such 

 deep importance ; and, above all, that we might commit no mistakes in hastily 

 constructing maps from immature data ; certain sketch maps having been 

 sent to us, before it was possible to calculate his observations and reduce them 

 to order. 



Passing then from this meagre outline of the results to science, what 

 must be our feelings as men, when we mark the fidelity with which Dr. 

 Livingstone kept his promise to the natives who, having accompanied him to 

 St. Paul de Loando, were reconducted by him from that city to their homes ? 

 On this head my predecessors and myself have not failed, whenever an 

 opportunity occurred, to testify our deep respect for such noble conduct. 

 Rare fortitude and virtue must our medallist have possessed, when — having 

 struggled at the imminent risk of life through such obstacles, and escaping 

 from the interior, he had been received with true kindness by our old allies 

 the Portuguese at Angola — he nobly resolved to redeem his promise, and 

 retrace his steps to the interior of the vast continent. How much, indeed, 

 must the moral influence of the British name be enhanced throughout Africa, 

 when it has been promulgated that our missionary -has thus kept his plighted 

 word to the poor natives who faithfully stood by him ! 



Turning to Dr. Livingstone, the President then said — Dr. Livingstone, 

 it is now my pleasing duty to present to you this our Patron's or Victoria 

 Medal, as a testimony of our highest esteem. I rejoice to see on this occasion, 

 such a numerous assemblage of geographers and distinguished persons, and 

 that our meeting is attended by the ministers of foreign nations. Above all, 

 I rejoice to welcome the representative of that nation whose governors and sub- 

 jects, in the distant regions of Africa, have treated you as a brother, and without 

 whose aid many of your most important results could not have been achieved. 

 Gladdened must be the hearts of all the geographers present, when they see 

 you attended by men, who accompanied and aided you in your earliest 

 labours. I allude particularly to our own fellows, Colonel Steele, Mr. Cotton 

 Oswell, and Captain Vardon, who are now with us. As these and other 

 distinguished African travellers are in this room, and among them Dr. 

 Barth, who alone of living men, has reached Timbuctoo and returned, may 



