The Sun.
London, England, 1858-08-28 00:00:00

THE LIVINGSTONE EXPEDITION.

Her Majesty's steamer Hermes, Capt. Gordon, which was
despatched from Simon's Bay some time ago to accompany
the Livingstone expedition to the mouth of the Zambezi
River, has returned. She arrived in Algoa Bay on the Bth
ult., and has brought intelligence from Dr. Livingstone and
the members of his exploring expedition.
Dr. Livingstone, in a private letter, dated Zambezi River,
June 25, 1858, addressed to Sir George Grey, states that
the expedition had safely reached the Zambezi, and having
parted company wfth the Pearl, were about to proceed to
Tete in the small steam-launch Ma Robert. Some difficulty
was experienced in obtaining an entrance for the Pearl into
the main stream of the Zambezi. Dr. Livingstone says:—
" We first attempted the branch which was described by
Lieut. Hoskins as the most southern and most navigable
branch, and though it did not lead us into the Zambezi, we
found some sixty or seventy miles of navigable river. . . .
After searching for some time at the bar of Luabo—which
Mr. Skead sounded in the Hermes cutter—we failed to find
a passage; but trying, by the advice of Capt. Gordon, the
river Kongone, the bar of which .also Mr. Skead sounded, we
entered, and soon reached the main stream. . . . We then
let the Pearl go on her voyage to Ceylon, and trust to getting
up to Tete by the Ma Robert. We have had no fever yet. Capt.
Bedingfield has had hard work of it, but he, too, continues
well; and we all look forward with interest to meeting with
my Makelolo, who are still at Tete, though several have died
during their stay by small-pox. We shall leave our heavy
luggage at Senna.'
A member of the expedition, writing from the Zambezi
on the 2d July, gives the following additional particulars :
" The weather has been delightful—no signs of fever—in
fact nothing can be more delusive than the belief that this
is the region of death. We found ourselves off the Great
Zambezi, in the Pearl, on May 14, bat the river being rough
and the wind fresh, we did not attempt to land until the next
day when the Hermes hove in sight; and as it had been
dedded by the expedidonists that the Great River would be
more easily reached by the West Luabo and less risk run
than by entering the Zambezi at once, where the bar is
shallevv and the surf heavy, we decided for West Luabo,
accompanied by the Hermes. It was low water when we
reached the mouth the river, with the sea in a state of
fury right across its mouth, so we waited till 3 p.m., when
the water having risen six feet, we made a run for it
in the Pearl (her captain showitig much pluck), and
got over the bar (which just broke), 21 fathoms being
the least water we found. Upon entering the points
of the river, a fine sheet of water opened out, the shores of
which are densely clad with mangrove and other tropical
trees, but the river's banks were quite level, and elevated
only two or three feet above the spring tide level. This
feature is universal throughout the delta, We anchored
for the night, and at day-dawn on Sunday, 16th, the opera-
tion of hoisting out the steam-launch was commenced. I

started off with two Kroomen and three of the members
of the expedition, to survey the estuary and get as-
tronomical observations, Capt. Bedingfielci and myself
acting as leadsmen. We did our work by 5 p.m., and
returned to the Pearl just as the centre and heaviest part
of the launch, weighing five or six tons, was going out.
All went well, and at sunset we gave three cheers
and joined the tore part of the launch to the middle, and so
ended the first day. We found a group of eight hippopo-
tami living in a creek just at our observation spot, and
they by no means approved of our intrusion. We fired
at them—heard the bullets strike their heads, but they only
grunted, sank down, and rose again—again to receive another
leaden salute, with the like indifference. I measured the foot-
prints of these animals on the stiff clayey bank of the river,
and found them 15 to 16 inches, and 12 inches. Dr. L.
declares their flesh to be delicious, and very similar in
flavour and delicacy to sucking-pig. I have made arrange-
ments for a hippopotamus ham ! Having got all ready for
forward work, such as trying the launch, testing the com-
passes, &c., &c., we left our first anchorage on 20th May,
with the launch ahead, to lead the way. We soon got
aground about seven miles up the river, but did not remain
long there, and by 6 p.m. bad advanced a good many
miles from the sea, where we anchored in six fathoms
for the night. We found the river more than anticipa-
tion had pictured it to be—broad, deep, and flowing
with riverly strength, which raised our hopes far beyond
what they had formerly been, for success with ease and
rapidity. Vain hopes, too soon to be confronted with reality,
in the shape of reeds and bulrushes right across the river.
The mosquitoes began to be very troublesome. I saw anti
closely examined six different species, all venomous and
brutally ferocious; but we found that by keeping in the
middle of the river our sufferings were somewhat alleviated.
" Very few natives were seen, and they were shy, not
daring to approach us aq far as we have yet been.
" Next day, May 21, we started at daylight, and ran
a-ground at eight. At 10 got afloat, and went on, passing
a wide branch of the river several miles from the sea.
We continued to proceed, the river getting narrower,
until five p.m. On 22d May we reached a short, sharp
turn in the river; and in trying to turn, by putting her
bows against the river's bank, she stuck fast; and at nine
a.m. she was dry as far aft as the foreman'—her stern being
in four fathoms of water, and not twenty yards from the
other bank. No fever, nor anyning that I know of, can
be worse than the mosquitoes that night. The spot is called
the Mosquito Bend, and the beasts, as if conscious that our
onward progress was at an end, feasted with savage prey
upon us—curtains, clothing, boots even,'proving unavailing
against their savage onslaughts.
"On the 23d May, at day-dawn, I left the Pearl in the
launch with Capt. Bedingfield, to feel for the expected
channel to the Zambezi, the fog from the river barely allow.
log us to see our way, and the river fast became narrower and
shallow, the middle not exceeding .20 yards. At 8.45 we
got aground (the launch floats in two feet), and then we
left in a gig to try if a passage at north-west to the Zambezi
existed for the launch. The tide being out, we did not get
far, and as there was not enough of water for the gig to turn,
we backed out, and returned to the launch, having floated.
At noon we returned for the Pearl, reaching her at 2 p.m.
" 24th May.—Again left in launch to try for some channel
to the Zambezi. We again got aground, when I left in a
gig with the geologist and ten Kroomen ; and after pulling,
sculling, and poling the boat many miles from the sea, we
were fairly stopped by reeds and bulrushes in two 'feet
water, in every direction. All hope this way was then at an
end, and we turned our thoughts to the other branch of the
river, from ' No Whither Island,' and our prow towards the
launch."

Count Gozzer has arrived at Fenton's Hotel from
Paris.

Lord Stanley has left town on a visit to the Chan-
eellor of the Exchequer at Hughend n Manor.
We regret to announce the demise of the Dowager
Lady Elphinstone, widow of Major-Gen. Sir H. Elphin-
stone, C.B. Her ladyship died on Tuesday last, and was in
her 75th year.
Lady Havelock and family, accompanied by Major-
Gen. C. F. Havelock, left St. Valery-sur-Somme on Thurs-
day afternoon, sad arrived early yesterday morning at
London-bridge-wharf by the General Steam Navigation
Company's steam-ship Panther, Capt. J. W. Reader, from
Boulogne.

TESTIMONIAL TO LADY WILLIAMS WYNN.—We
learn from the Chester Courant that the shilling subscrip-
tion for a testimonial to this highly-respected and amiable
lady is expected to reach £4OO, about 8,000 persons having
subscribed.

Amongst the fashionable arrivals at the Granby
Hotel, Harrogate are Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Frances
Lefroy, Miss Lefroy, the Right Hon. Judge Ball, Captain
Ball, Mrs. Colonel Dickenson, Rev. W. C. Lake, Miss
Pedder, W. Rhode,, Esq., Lieut.-General Lindsay, C. 8.,
Mrs. Lindsay, M7s. Fraser, the Misses Hess, Admiral Wal-
pole, Miss Cholin'ev, Miss Stracy, Mrs. Baker, Rev. Arthur
Burd,H.Denison,Esq., Mrs. Admiral Peacocke, Riall,
Esq., 56th Regiment, Miss Riall, Rev. F. Bard,Captain and
Mrs. Barnett, de Sidenham, Esq., Mrs. Newnham,
Miss
Schonswar, &c., &c.

HOMBURG, AUG. 21.—The following are among
the English families of rank at present sojourning here :
The Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde, the Earl cf
Pembroke, the Countess of Jersey and Lady Clementina
Villiers, the Earl Jermyn and Hon. Mr. Hervey, Dowager
Lady Clinton, Lady Seymour and Miss Seymour, Dowager
Lady Truro, Sir James Weir Hogg, Sir William Fraser,
M.P., Gen. Sir Willoughby Cotton, Mr. and Lady Catherine
Weyland, Mr. Palk, M.P., and Mrs. Palk, Sir Alex.
Cockburn and Miss Cockburn, M.; NM: rind Ni5A
&Mt, scl
-

From the LONDON GAZETTB bi Yesterday.

FOREIGN-OFFICE, AVG. 25.

The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. James B.
Hayne as Consul at Turk's Island for the United states of
America. _ _ _

The Queen has also been pleased to approve of Mr. J. M.
Vanderspar to be Consul at Point de Galle tor his Majesty
the King of the Belgians.

AUGUST 27.

The Queen has been pleased to approve of Mr. Benjamin
Isaac as Consul in London for the Repub:ic of New Gra-
nada. _ _-

The Queen bas also been pleased to approve of Mr. George
William Jones as Vice-Consul at Newport (Monmouth-
shire), for his Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Mecklen-
burgh Schwerin.