260 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



a man well known to geographers for his successful explorations of the coast 

 and rivers of Western Africa, especially the Congo, and my dear friend will 

 no doubt receive substantial assistance from that gallant officer. (Cheers,) 

 Dr. Kirk, of Edinburgh, an accomplished botanist, zoologist, and physiologist, 

 also accompanies the expedition ; whilst my clever young friend Richard 

 Thornton will, I doubt not, do good service as the mining geologist. 

 (Cheers.) Mr. Baines, too, whose previous travels in Africa and North 

 Australia and striking sketches are well known to the public, will be there ; 

 and last but not least in usefulness among the members of the expedition 

 let me mention Mrs. Livingstone. (Loud and long continued cheering.) 



" When I remember the efforts which have been made in the cause of 

 Christianity and for the diffusion of knowledge by that exemplary lady (loud 

 cheers), when I know how she, the daughter of that faithful missionary, the 

 venerable Moffat, has educated her children, and when I see the spirit with 

 which she is again going to cross the broad seas and to share all the toils and 

 perils of her husband, I cannot but think that the services of Mrs. Livingstone 

 (acquainted as she is with many of the languages of South Africa) will tend 

 materially to the success of the expedition.* (Loud and protracted cheering.) 



" But, gentlemen, I would not, however, wish you to raise your hopes too 

 high as to the immediate results of this expedition, which is in truth one of 

 an exploratory character only. It is, in fact, merely the sowing of the seed 

 which, under Cod's Providence, may produce an abundant harvest. We 

 must not look to a sudden importation of indigo or of cotton, and those raw 

 materials which we manufacture in this country, nor must we expect suddenly 

 to light upon a new El Dorado ; though I believe that my friend may find 

 districts which abound in gold and copper, and good thick coal-seams. 



" Yet if, after all, those expectations to which the commercial world looks 

 should fail — if we gain nothing more than the implanting in Africa of that 

 good name which Dr. Livingstone is sure to leave (cheers), and that accession 

 to our knowledge which the discoveries of our great explorer are certain to 

 supply, and which it would be a disgrace to Britain not to endeavour to 

 obtain, even then I say that the Livingstone expedition will have a great and 

 a glorious issue. (Loud and long continued cheering.) I propose, therefore, 

 the health of our eminent friend Dr. Livingstone, and success to his noble 

 enterprise. (The toast was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm ; and after the 

 cheering had ceased, at the suggestion of a gentleman in the body of the 

 room, three more hearty cheers were given for Mrs. Livingstone.)" 



The name of Sekeletu, chief of Livingstone's Makololo friends, was 

 announced at the bottom of the room, and a cheer was claimed for him. 



* As we shall see further on, Mrs. Livingstone did not go to Africa until Dr. Livingstone had been 

 foi some time in the interior. 



