804 LIFE OF DA VID LIVINGSTONE, LL.D. 



As the result of this generous offer a Special General Committee of the 

 Society was convened to consider the subject. The Secretaries read the letter 

 and then laid before the Committee the information furnished by the travels 

 of Speke, Grant, Colonel Long, Mr. Stanley, and the Eev. J. Wakefield, with 

 regard to the circumstances of the tribes adjoining Lake Nyanza ; and full 

 discussion having ensued, the following resolutions were passed: — " 1. That 

 this Committee, bearing in mind that the Church Missionary Society is prim- 

 arily commissioned to Africa and the East, and recognising a combination of 

 providential circumstances in the present opening in Equatorial Africa, thank- 

 fully accepts the offer of the anonymous donor of £5,000, and undertakes, in 

 dependence upon God, to take steps for the establishment of a mission to the 

 vicinity of the Victoria Nyanza, in the prayerful hope that it may prove a 

 centre of light and blessing to the tribes in the heart of Africa. 2. That a 

 sub-committee be appointed to consider and report to the Committee on the 

 best mode of carrying this resolution into effect. 3. That a special fund be 

 opened for meeting the expenditure connected with the proposed mission." 



Eeferring to this matter shortly after, at a meeting of the Royal Geo- 

 graphical Society, the Eev. Me. Hutchinson, Secretary to the Church Mission- 

 ary Society, remarked that it might be expected he would say something 

 respecting the noble call — the Christian appeal made by Mr. Stanley. The 

 subject had long occupied the attention of the Society, and it was due to the 

 Church Missionary Society that geographical expeditions were started in East- 

 ern Africa. There were, of course, great difficulties in the way of carrying 

 out the proposal, but every possible precaution would be taken ; and in accept- 

 ing King Mtesa's invitation, which they expected was sincere, they did not 

 anticipate any of the dangers which some people spoke of. The Society 

 thought and believed that half the energy, fortitude, and indomitable per- 

 severance which had been displayed by Geographical explorers would suffice 

 to bring the Gospel to the shores of the Nyanza. What the Society was now 

 considering was, what was the best route ? They knew that a combination 

 of circumstances should direct them in what they were about to undertake. 

 From one friend they had already got £5,000, and another friend had that 

 morning promised to give them £3,000. Surely that showed there was a 

 feeling in this country which would bring to the poor wretches of Africa that 

 Gospel which made the people of this land what they were. In conclusion he 

 should, for the attainment of this object, bespeak sympathy of all lovers of 

 geographical science. 



It was not long before a Mission party was organised, consisting, among 

 others, of Lieut. G. Shergold Smith, who was to be the leader of the expedi- 

 tion till it reached its destination; Eev. C. T. Wilson, M.A., and Dr. J. 

 Smith. Altogether, the party, which included engineers and artizans, num- 

 bered seven persons. Half of them were to be stationed in Uganda, and 



