the part of civilized mankind, that Mr. Bennett had such a man on his staff, and had the wisdom to know that he was the man who could carry out his wishes, if these were possible.

If a life of varying vicissitude and arduous journeyings be a good preparation for travel in Central Africa, Mr. Stanley had undergone a training remarkable for one of his years. Born in Denbigh, in North Wales, he emigrated to New Orleans while still in his teens. He joined the Confederate army, and was taken prisoner at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, on the 6th of April, 1862. While being conveyed to prison, he managed to effect his escape in a way which showed the bold daring of the man. Seizing a favorable moment, he burst through the armed escort, and, plunging into a deep and sluggish stream, swam safely to the other side, notwithstanding that a dozen bullets were sent whistling about his ears. He got clear away, and went back to England for a few months. Returning again to the United States, he enlisted in the Federal navy, and was present at the capture of Fort Fisher on the 15th January, 1865. After the war he became connected with "The New York Tribune," and acted as special correspondent with Gen. Hancock's expedition against the Kiowa and Cheyenne Indians. In returning from this mission to the Far West, he, along with a companion of kindred spirit, disdaining the lumbering stage route, accomplished nearly seven hundred miles of their return on a raft down the River Platte as far as its junction with the Missouri. In a short time after this, Mr. Stanley and two companions turned up all but naked and totally destitute at the American consulate in Constantinople, having been robbed and maltreated in an attempt to penetrate into the interior of Asia Minor.

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Getting back to New York, he was engaged by Mr. Bennett, of "The New York Herald," as special correspondent with the British Military Expedition to Magdala in Abyssinia. For several years afterwards, his time was occupied in representing that great American journal in various European capitals, and at the opening of the Suez Canal. Immediately prior to proceeding to Africa in search of Livingstone, he accomplished a journey even more perilous, as regards danger to life and limb, than his more famous expedition to Lake Tanganyika. This was nothing less than a journey from Constantinople, through Asia Minor, Persia, and India, to Bombay, with only a single servant as companion. Not the least remarkable part of this wonderful exploit was its moderate cost. He tells us that the entire expenditure, including outfit, was only a hundred and sixty-four pounds. As he is still under middle age, we may yet hear of some equally daring exploit, as boldly conceived and as successfully carried out, as the journey from Constantinople to Bombay, and that from Zanzibar to Ujiji and back.

24

THE story of Dr. Livingstone's wanderings to and fro over the vast extent of country, the watershed of which, according to his belief, goes to form the Nile and the Congo, cannot be better told than in his own words. Letters to Mr. James Gordon Bennett, and to Lords Clarendon and Granville, successively foreign ministers in the English government, supply ample materials, and tell the story of his trials and difficulties, and the geographical conclusions he had arrived at up to the period of Mr. Stanley's meeting with him, in a far more graphic and telling manner than any paraphrase of ours could pretend to do. In his first letter to Mr. Gordon Bennett, he records his thanks for the great service rendered to to him by that gentleman :

"If I explain the forlorn condition in which he found me, you will easily perceive that I have good reason to use very strong expressions of gratitude. I came to Ujiji off a tramp of between four hundred and five hundred miles beneath a blazing vertical sun, having been baffled, worried, defeated, and forced to return, when almost in sight of the end of the geographical part of my mission, by a number of half-caste Moslem slaves, sent to me from Zanzibar, instead of men. The sore heart,

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made still sorer by the truly woful sights I had seen of 'man's inhumanity to man,' re-acted on the bodily frame, and depressed it beyond measure. I thought that I was dying on my feet. It is not too much to say, that almost every step of the weary, sultry way I was in pain; and I reached Ujiji a mere ruckle of bones. Here I found that some five hundred pounds worth of goods I had ordered from Zanzibar had unaccountably been intrusted to a drunken half-caste Moslem tailor, who, after squandering them for sixteen months on the way to Ujiji, finished up by selling off all that remained for slaves and ivory for himself. He had divined on the Koran, and found that I was dead. He had also written to the governor of Unyanyembe that he had sent slaves after me to Manyema, who returned and reported my decease, and begged permission to sell off the few goods that his drunken appetite had spared. He, however, knew perfectly well, from men who had seen me, that I was alive, and waiting for the goods and men; but, as for morality, he is evidently an idiot; and, there being no law here except that of the dagger or musket, I had to sit down in great weakness, destitute of every thing save a few barter cloths and beads I had taken the precaution to leave here in case of extreme need. The near prospect of beggary among Ujijians made me miserable. I could not despair, because I laughed so much at a friend, who, on reaching the mouth of the Zambesi, said, that he was tempted to despair on breaking the photograph of his wife: we could have no success after that.' After that, the idea of despair his to me such a strong smack of the ludicrous, it is out of the question.

"Well, when I had got to about the lowest verge, vague rumors of an English visitor reached me.

1

thought of myself as the man who went down from Jerusalem to Jericho; but neither priest, Levite, nor Samaritan could possibly pass my way. Yet the good Samaritan was close at hand; and one of my people rushed up at the top of his speed, and in great excitement gasped out,' An Englishman coming! I see him!' And off he darted to meet him. An American flag, the first ever seen in these parts, at the head of a caravan, told me the nationality of the stranger. I am as cold and non-demonstrative as we islanders are usually reputed to be, but your kindness made my frame thrill. It was indeed overwhelming; and I said in my soul, 'Let the rickest blessings descend from the Highest on you and yours.'

"The news Mr. Stanley had to tell me was thrilling: the mighty political changes on the Continent; the surcess of the Atlantic cables, the election of Gen. Grant, and many topics, riveted my attention for days together, and had an immediate and beneficial effect on my health. I had been without news from home for years, save what I could glean from a few Saturday Reviews,' and copies of Punch' for 1868. The appetite revived, and in a week I began to feel strong again. Mr. Stanley brought a most kind and encouraging despatch from Lord Clarendon, whose loss I sincerely deplore, - the first I have received from the Foreign Office since 1866, - and information that Her Majesty's government had kindly sent one thousand pounds to my aid. Up to his arrival I was not aware of any pecuniary aid. I came unsalaried, but this want is now happily repaired; and I am anxious that you and all my friends should know, that, though uncheered by letters, I have stuck to the task which my friend Sir Roderick Murchison set me, with John-Bullish tenacity, believing that all will come right at last."