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LIVINGSTONE* FESTIVAL. 
[Feb. 13, 1858. 
Sir R. Murchison. — I now call on my scientific friends and others 
to drink to the toast of “ The Legislature which supplied the means, 
and the Government which prepared the measures, to carry out the 
Livingstone Expedition.” (. Applause .) 
It was indeed most cheering to all geographers and philanthropists 
to witness the cordial spirit with which the House of Commons 
granted the sum asked for to promote the Livingstone Expedition — 
a sum, however, which after all I consider somewhat inadequate to 
the great object in view ( hear , hear), but which, in unison with the 
wishes of the public, the Parliament will, I am confident, augment 
when needful. ( Cheers .) 
As to the acts of the Government I can truly say, that having 
had opportunities of observing and scrutinising them, including 
the warm sympathy and aid of Lord Palmerston and his asso- 
ciates, I cannot too highly commend their conduct. Lord Clarendon 
in particular took the most lively interest in promoting the welfare 
of Livingstone long before the traveller came home, by sending out 
orders to succour the unaided Missionary ; and he has since 
zealously and sincerely laboured to promote by every means in his 
power the present expedition, and has also counselled Her Majesty 
to give to our friend that public appointment which will enable 
him to be really useful ; it having been a principle with the noble 
Earl to lose no opportunity of raising the position of the poor 
African, and of rendering him the cultivator of substances of 
which Britain has need. ( Cheers .) 
In proposing this toast of the Legislature and Her Majesty’s 
Government, I call upon the Duke of Argyll to speak for the Upper 
House of Parliament and the Government, and Mr. Baxter for the 
House of Commons ; and if the band will only play “ The Campbells 
are coming,” we who know the powers of the Noble Duke are 
certain that a good speech will follow. ( Loud cheers.) 
The Duke of Argyll. — I deem it a great honour, Gentlemen, to 
any Government and to any Parliament to be able to assist in that 
noble enterprise to which Dr. Livingstone has devoted his best 
energies, and to which he is now willing to devote his life. Perhaps 
no enterprise of modern times has attracted so large an amount of 
public attention ; and this because it includes within itself almost 
every variety and degree of interest. First and foremost there is 
the interest which attaches to the character of the man ; and it is 
right, Gentlemen, that this should be the first and foremost interest 
of all. The progress of the world depends upon its great men; 
and happy is that people which knows them when they appear. 
( Cheers.) . 
