The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-20 00:00:00

a few weeks, while the descriptions of all successive
expeditions have been also read with eagerness.
The discussion of African discoveries, and of the
information which has been acquired from various
sources respecting that continent and its inhabi-
tants, formed one of the prominent features in the
programme of the assembly of the British Associa-
tion. The names of three at least of the most
distinguished of modern travellers were amongst
the list of those who had promised to contribute
to the general fund. We need not refer to the
unhappy accident which, in a moment, deprived not
only the Association, but the country of one of its
most eminent men, and threw a gloom over every
thing connected with the long promised African
discussion. This mournful event, however, could
not diminish the interest felt in Dr. LIVINGSTONE'S
lecture on his travels and labours, and accordingly
on Monday evening so great were the crowds
anxlous to obtain an entrance to the theatre
that it was deemed advisable to make arrangements
so that hundreds who could not find room in the
theatre might hear the lecture read in another
place simultaneously with the doctor's delivery of
it. Such a testimony to the esteem in which his
labours were held could not be otherwise than
gratifying to the indefatigable traveller who has
done such good service to the cause of science,
while it afforded unmistakeable evidence of the
strong interest felt in these African explorations.
That interest was likely to be heightened rather
than diminished by Dr LIVINGSTONE'S address,
which was full of curious information. It is very
satisfactory to find from Dr LIVINGSTONE'S
observations that our labours for the sup-
pression of the slave trade, however in-
efficiently or inconsistently managed, have not
been unproductive of good. In proceeding towards
the interior of the West Coast, " I found," he says,
" that piracy had been abolished, and that the slave
trade had been so far suppressed as to be spoken of
as a thing of the past ; that lawful commerce had
increased from £20,000 in ivory and gold dust to
between £2,000,000 and £3,000,000, one million of
which is in palm oil to our own country ; that over
twenty missions had been established with schools
in which 12,000 pupils were taught ; that life and
property were secure on the road, and comparative
peace established in large portions of the interior,
and all this was at a time when, from read-
ing the speeches of well-informed gentlemen
at home, I had come to the conclusion
that our cruisers had done nothing but
aggravate the evils of the slave trade." It is a pity
that, expending so much as we do, a more judicious
exercise of our national power and influence does
not altogether suppress this infamous traffic. The
Portuguese were found, of course, by Dr. LIVING-
STONE to be at the bottom of all the slave dealing
going on ; but so well are they aware of its illega-
lity, that on one occasion when the Doctor and his
party met a band of Portuguese slaves is charge of
84 captives, whom they were leading bound to the
Portuguese settlement, Zette, the guards took im-
mediately to flight, leaving their charge behind
them. One of the native kings whom Dr LIVING-
STONE remonstrated with on selling his people as
slaves, excused himself on the plea that he
only sent the criminals; and Dr LIVINGSTONE is
of opinion that in many cases the slaves are origi-
nally drawn from the criminal classes, so that as e
must not take the ordinary negro as a fair sample
of the outward appearance of the black race. Some
of the tribes in the interior were of a very low type ;
but even the lowest could £btain their living by
cultivating the land. The objects of the party were
to conciliate the natives, so as to pave the way for
opening commercial dealings. There is a fine field
for commerce in these quarters yet unexplored, and
cotton grows naturally in many parts. Dr LIVING-
STONE'S lecture abounds with interesting informa-
tion, and it is to be hoped his example will stimu-
late enterprise.