752 LIFE OF DAVID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



rapids, from- whence the passage to the Albert Nyanza is tolerably free from, 

 impediment. 



" Before I close this brief account of Mr. Stanley's exploration of the 

 Victoria Nyanza — an exploration which does infinite credit to his energy and 

 skill, and which will be explained to you more in detail by the veteran tra- 

 veller, Colonel Grant, at our next meeting — I am desirous of drawing atten- 

 tion to the extraordinary munificence of the proprietors of the London ' Daily 

 Telegraph ' and the ' New York Herald,' in fitting out this Expedition en- 

 tirely at their own expense. Such munificence far transcends the efforts of 

 private individuals in the cause of science, and even puts to shame our public 

 institutions, enabling, as it did, the undaunted Mr. Stanley to take the field 

 with four Europeans and three hundred natives, amply provided with arms, 

 instruments, and supplies, and assured of continued support, until he had 

 fairly accomplished his work. And I may add, that the courtesy which has 

 placed at my disposal Mr. Stanley's map of the Victoria Nyanza for the gra- 

 tification of the fellows of the Geographical Society, and for the general in- 

 struction of the public, is a graceful sequel to the liberality of Mr. Stanley's 

 English and American patrons in preparing the original Expedition. I feel 

 assured, then, that I only express the feelings of the fellows of the Society 

 in recording our warmest thanks to the proprietors and staff of l The Daily 

 Telegraph ' and ' New York Herald ' for the service they have rendered to 

 the cause of geography, and in wishing the most complete success to Mr. 

 Stanley's further operations." 



Not many days after that of the above meeting, a special meeting of the 

 Society was held for the consideration of African questions, Major-General 

 Sir H. C. Rawlinson, the President, again in the chair. A paper was read 

 by Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Grant, C.B., on ' Mr. H. M. Stanley's Explora- 

 tion of Lake Victoria Nyanza.' The theatre of the University of London 

 was crowded by ladies and gentlemen, amongst them being the Baroness 

 Burdett-Coutts, Sir T. Fowell Buxton, Bart., Sir Samuel Baker, Captain Bur- 

 ton, Rev. Dr. Moffatt, Rev. Horace Waller, etc. etc. On the table, in front 

 of the president's chair, was, under a glass shade, the map of Victoria Nyanza 

 district executed by Mr. Stanley in Africa. 



The President, in opening the proceedings, said they had met to discuss 

 the question of Central or Equatorial Africa. At the last meeting he had the 

 honour of representing to the Society how much it was indebted to Mr. Stan- 

 ley for his recent circumnavigation of the Victoria Nyanza. On the present 

 occasion the meeting would have the advantage of hearing Mr. Stanley's dis- 

 coveries illustrated by his great predecessor, Colonel Grant. As they were 

 also honoured by the presence of Sir Samuel Baker and of Captain Burton, 

 they had all the great authorities on the question present, and he therefore 

 hoped they would have an interesting discussion on this most important sub- 



