Feb. 13 , 1858 .] 
LIVINGSTONE FESTIVAL. 
135 
qualified above other men he was to do this, the rest of that 
dedication shows : for it embalms the really remarkable fact 
already alluded to, that our Chairman by his mere scientific de- 
ductions had arrived at the true hypothesis as to the physical con- 
formation of the African Continent which Livingstone verified by 
actual observation. And so, for these discoveries, there were com- 
bined the various necessary conditions — ( Cheers ) — the Geographical 
Society, headed by its President, to solicit the Government to keep 
alive the interest of the public, and so to support the enterprising 
traveller. He, too, combined in himself rare faculties for his work 
of stepping out, if I may so express it, as to African explorations the 
first track of civilized feet on the dangerous and untrodden snows, 
which at any moment might be found to have merely loosely covered 
fathomless abysses. He had the physical strength needed for such 
work. He had the capacity for understanding the greatness of his 
enterprise, and, Gentlemen, I believe it to be full of the truest 
greatness. ( Cheers .) 
You will not think that I speak too strongly when I say that 
I believe we owe a debt of unparalleled magnitude to our dark 
brethren dwelling in that great continent. For we, as a nation, 
were of old the great founders and the great conductors of the 
accursed slave-trade. Complete at last, thank God ! but late as 
well as complete, was our repentance, and all that we can do we are 
bound to do to remedy the wrongs we have inflicted. And fearful 
have they been. How humiliating is it to us in our talk of the 
onward march of civilization, and of piercing with our discoveries 
into the heart of African barbarism, to learn from Dr. Livingstone 
that he can trace by the presence of vice, and crime, and rapine, 
and distrust, and insecurity of property and life, the very limits of 
the past intercourse of the black savages of Africa with the white 
Christians of Europe ! ( Cheers .) For it was not only on the coast 
line that deep injury was inflicted by that accursed trade ; but far 
within that coast line, wherever the agents of that traffic penetrated, 
there were contamination and destruction. And how can this evil 
be undone ? Much may be done by our naval squadron, and for 
doing anything by any means I am convinced that its vigorous 
maintenance is essential ; but the best successes of that blockade 
can only create the calm necessary for the working of other influ- 
ences, and amongst the very first, if not actually as the very first, 
of those influences I esteem the establishment of lawful commerce. 
( Cheers.') 
Now, this Livingstone had the grasp of mind to perceive ; to 
see that he should be most effectually opening the way for the 
