Feb. 13 , 1858 .] 
LIVINGSTONE FESTIVAL. 
133 
honoured names in art and science, and, above all, the great work of 
Missionary enterprise, which thronged this hall. (Cheers.) Humanly 
speaking, theirs had been the task of giving to Dr. Livingstone the 
means of displaying those wonderful qualifications which have con- 
centrated such unbounded interest in his proceedings, both past and 
future. It was for the public of England now to do its part, — to give 
free scope to this great genius in the double work of civilization and 
evangelization. They must have seen how Dr. Livingstone had suc- 
cessfully encountered all the trials of adversity, fatigue, sickness, 
weariness, hope deferred, peril of death. There yet remained one 
more trial, to some the sorest of all, namely, that of comparative ease, 
and the praise of all men. Believing, as the Missionary Society did, 
that his faith in Christ is firmly fixed, they doubted not he would go 
through this trial also without fail ; but they would, he trusted, con- 
tinue to offer up constant prayers for him in his new and dangerous 
position, that the blessing of the Almighty might still accompany him. 
For himself he would only add, that having had the privilege of pre- 
siding at the great missionary meeting which welcomed Dr. Living- 
stone back to this country at the termination of his unparalleled 
labours, and having witnessed the enthusiasm which then abounded, 
it would ever be a subject of the most gratifying remembrance that 
he had been permitted to take a prominent part upon this scarcely 
less memorable occasion, and have had the very distinguished 
honour, for such he must ever call it, of wishing this great mes- 
senger of Gospel civilization God-speed, on behalf of the Missionary 
Societies of Great Britain. (Applause.) 
The Bishop of Oxford. — Mr. Chairman, the toast which has been 
committed to me is one as to the propriety of which all present 
have already expressed their opinion ; for once and once only to- 
night there has been expressed a general dissent to an observation 
of yours, and that observation was that you were not the fittest 
person to fill that chair. (Loud cheers.') 
In proposing, therefore, Gentlemen, to you the health of our 
Chairman, I know that I have with me the universal concurrence of 
all the members of this great gathering. ( Cheers.) In truth, Sir, for 
reasons which connect themselves immediately with our important 
object to-night, you are the fittest man amongst us to occupy that 
post. For you as a most distinguished geologist and geographer, 
and as the head of the Royal Geographical Society, have done more 
by far than any who have not carefully examined the whole matter 
