The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-12 00:00:00

Mr. LENO then moved this resolution :—" That
this meeting emphatically denounces and calls upon
the unenfrahchised millions resolutely to oppose all
attempts which may be made in Parliament by
means of plurality of :votes, cumulative votes, or
other similar contrivances, to give a preponderance
to property or wealth in the matter of the fran-
chise, and thereby infringe the principle of poli-
tical equality, and perpetuate the system of ;lass
representation, while affording fresh encouragement
to the practice of bribery and corruption, and the
exercise of undue and vicious influences. This
meeting, therefore earnestly invites the working
classes and all true Reformers throughout the United
Kingdum to support the Reform League iii con-
tinuing its energetic and valuable labours on behalf
of the rights of the people, until the victory is ob-
tained by the unrepresented being placed in the full
and free exercise and enjoyment of the elective
franchise."

Mr. LucRAFT seconded this, which was also car-
ried unanimously.
By the time the business had reached this stage
the masses of the people began to sway to and fro,
and very little of what the speakers said could be
heard even by those who stood close beside them. A
third resolution, denouncing any employment of the
Volunteers to suppress political meetings, was to
have been brought before the meeting; but, as rain
and sleet began to fall, this was not proposed, and
the proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks to
the chairman.

Last evening, at a meeting of the Royal Geo-
graphical Society, held at Burlington-house, there
was an unusually large attendance of Fellows,
members, and visitors, attracted probably by the
belief that some additional information would be
afforded in reference to the reported murder of the
great African traveller, Dr. Livingstone, contra-
dictory or otherwise, as Sir Roderick Murchison,
the President, had led the public to expect.
At half-past 8 o'clock Sir Henry Rawlinson took
the chair. On doing so he said he had to apologise
in the first place for the unusual incident of his oc-
cupying the place of their very popular president,
Sir Roderick Murchison ; but Sir Roderick was
indisposed, and had delegated the office to him,
one of the Vice-presidents of the society. Sir R.
Murchison particularly desired to have been present
on that occasion, in order to make an explanatory
statement to the society in regard to the announce-
ment which had already appeared in the news-
papers as to what they feared to have been
the untimely fate of the great traveller, Dr.
Livingstone. Most of those present were doubtless
already acquainted with the circumstances attending
the alleged death from the letters in The Sun; but,
as there might be some who were not, he read that
of Dr. Kirk., who, writing from Zanzibar on the
2Gth of December last, stated, in effect, that on the
sth of that month nine Johanna men of the party
which had accompanied Livingstone returned to
Zanzibar, reporting that on the west of Lake Nyassa,
some time between the end of July and September,
they were suddenly attacked• by a band of Mazite,
and that Dr. Livingstone, with half his party, were
murdered. They all agreed that they saw the body.
of Livingstone, and that it had one wound', that of
an axe, at the back of the neck, although in the
details and in other things the accounts of the vari-
ous men differed. The Chairman continued to say
that Sir Roderick Murchison had written a few lines
in reference to the statement of Dr. Kirk, which he
would read to them. Sir Roderick said :
" Regretting particularly that, owing to indis-
position, I am unable to attend the meeting this
evening, I beg the Fellows of the Society to recol-
lect that in announcing the reported death of my
dear and valued friend, Dr. Livingstone, I spoke of
it as an event which required to be substantiated by
better evidence than that of the nine men of Johanna
in the Comore Islands who brought the sad intelli-
gence. I am informed by travellers who know these
people well that they are Mahomedans, who, if they
became disgusted with or intimidated by the fero-
cious Pagan natives on the borders of the Lake
Nyassa, may have abandoned their chief, and hav-
ing agreel upon the story they were to tell, would
hold firmly in maintaining its truth. There are
also several parts of their narrative which seem to
me to be difficult to understand—their being hidden
in a wood, and yet their observation on the attack
of Livingstone being so accurately described. Again,
if, as the Johanna men state, they buried their
leader, is it likely that they would in such a case
not have brought away with them some relic to
vouch for the truth of their story ? Presuming that
if hostile natives had killed Livingstone, they would
have cared little for his note-books ; one of these
alone, or even a lock of his hair would have been
good auxiliary evidence. Further, when I recol-
lect that many an African traveller who has re-
turned safely to England has been reported to have
been killed (usually by runaway natives, who had
deserted him), I shall not abandon all hope until
Dr. Kirk, the former devoted companion of Living-
stone, and who has gone towards the scene of the
alleged disaster, shall have satisfied himself that the
calamity really occurred, and that the philan-
thropists and geographers have lost the great tra-
veller who had already won for himself imperishable
renown. (Cheers.) I have only to add that the more
detailed account which Dr. Kirk had sent to me be-
fore the letter which appeared in the newspapers was
written will, I apprehend, throw a littic new light
upon the alleged murder, as it can be nothing more
than a detailed account of the story as related by
the Johanna men. Tho search into the truthful-
ness or otherwise of the account received must
occupy some time.—RODERICK I. MURCHISON.
March 11."

CHERTSEY RACES.—Tins DAY.
BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

sotto

Six R tn.
CIIERTSEY HANDICAP.

Six ran.
SELLING STEEPLECHASE.

Four ran.
HUNTERS' STAKES.

Aggravator
Mary Ann
Five ran.
OPEN HUNTERS' STAKES.

He (the Chairman) could have wished that Sir Ro-
derick himself bad been present, because he had
studied the subject; but he agreed with him in
thinking that it was a very lame story as it stood
at present, and, he thought, ought not to be
accepted without further verification. Again, it
was eight or nine months since the disaster was
reported to have occurred—namely, in July last;
and if it bad not taken place he could not

help thinking thtt they would have had some
telegram from Egypt contradicting the story.
That was the dark side of the account. In the mean-
time they must have patience as to the result. If
it should turn out, however, that poor Livingstone
was no more, science would have sustained au irre-
parable injury,* and every one of the Fellows of the
Royal Geographical Society would have lost a per-
sonal friend. (Hear, hear.)
The meeting then proceeded with the business on
the paper, which, though of considerable interest in
itself, had not the immediate interest attaching to
the painful rumour as to the fate of the great
African explorer.

EDI:1'10A .

SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CLocK.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

WV °BURN PLATE.
The Woburn Park Plate (Handicap) of 30 sovs ; winners
of 100 soya after March 2 (at ten a.m.) 10Ib, any other
winner 71b extra; abort two milts and a quarter.
Cutler 1

The Qherts2y Open Handicap of 10 suvs each, h ft, with
100 added ; winners of any steeplechase value 100 sows
after March 2 (at ten 21.m.)101b extra; the second in the
Liverpool Steeplechase 71b, any other winner 71b extra ;
the second to tvii his stake; about three miles and a
half; 12 subs. The highest weight accepting hying list
10Ib, it has been raised to 12st 71b, and tho others in
proportion.
Sportsman 1
Harold 2

Selling Steeplechase Stake of 5 sovs each, 2 ft (to the
fund). with 30 added; four-yr-olds list 21b), five 12st
21b, six and upwards 12st 71b; the winner to be sold
for 150 sovs ; if entered for 100 soya allowed 71b, 50
121 b ; maidens that have run twice allowed 41b ; two
miles. 9 subs.
Kinglake
Serious Case
Royal Geographical Society. Confusion

The Hunters' Stakes of 3 soya, with 20 added, for horses
that have been hunted with any established pack of,
hounds during the season of 1866-67 ; 12st each ; the
winner to be sold for 100 sovs ; if entered for 50 sovs
allowed 71b, 40 141 b; qualified gentlemen riders that
have never won a race value 50 sovs allowed 71b ; a
winner of 30 sovs 51b extra : about three miles.

The Open Hunters' Stakes of 5 sovs each, 2 ft, with 20
added; five-yr-olds list, six and aged list 71b ; any
previous winner of a race value 40 sovs 71b, twice or one
of 80 sovs 101 b extra ; if in a training stable this year 71b
extra ; qualified gentlemen riders ; professionals 71b
extra ; about three miles. 8 subs.
Hun gerf ord 1
Pa tch cock
Maurepas