The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-26


two years, abound, there are two great facts which
stand out with overwhelming importance. In the
that to the west OF Lake Tanganyika there is q
third great line OF drainage consisting OF huge
lakes, whose existence had been previously de-
had ever dreamed. In the second place, as regards
the supreme and central object OF Lvingstone's
Investigations the great historical stream Of Egypt
as uli OF mystery as the very Sphinx which fiowns
upon It's banks, what Livingstone has done is scien
t tincally TO disprove the conjectures and the
mad preceded him-of Spoke and Grant and Baker
ana Others "Hvootheses non lingo" wrote Bacon;
hicb s"'s prime rule OF scientific research 1t Is
lated. He did not verify his geographical induc-
LIONS at every step, and consequently he placed the
it seems-almost like satire upon human
more ancient than Baser and Of peried more
p venerable ,, Than spese.none other than
assigned to the earliest fountains OF the Nile
than any OF the race OF saranss which have sue
Baker was that they thought they had discovered
the chnabtId Nh in vast congeries OF lakes,
whereas mo great river has lacnstrne origin"
The mountains, writes Livingstone, where the
watershed OF the Nile s, are probably what
r ptolemy; for reasons sons unknown called the
he adds, II find that the springs of the Nile
do unquestionaby arise. This is just what
Ptolemy put down, and is true geography. We
Philistnes will reject the mountains, though
we cannot conjecture the reason for the same"
clusion which Livingstone has thus arrived at on
the subject OF the birth of the Nile, which has re-
manned for him the last OF his labors to fulfil. 1t Is
too much to say that Livingstone has as yet actually
traced the Nile to its first springs; 1t is not too
much to say that he is upon a track which will
almost inevitably lead him to them.
Upon the other points, supreme as their interest
Is, contained In these last dispatches OF Living
stone, we must forbear to dwell. Passing by the
hA Tho clI11i nj
slave trade and the cannibastic tribes OF Central
Africa, it is impossible not to be profoundly I'M
I the the wr Se OF the 10
tives, of his repeated desertion by them, and,
above all, by the systematic mismanagement OF
the supplies with which he was provided, and the
despatch OF the attendants who were sent to his
assistance: Sometimes these supplies failed TO
come at all; sometimes when they did come they
were not what he wanted. Natives were sent to
him instead OF freemen, and the natives were not
good When shall We next hear Of Livingstone
He has already come within $50 miles OF the his
torcal Nile and it Is not likely that he Will be able
to perform the remainder OF his long and tosome
Journey within year from the present time. AS
we have limited above, 1t Is far from unlikely that
when new batch OF communications arrives from
Livingstone he viii already have passed into Egypt
proper, and have met with Baker Pacha. Then we
shall know much on which we can only now vaguely
speculate. And the speculation, which the dis
coveres and communications already made by Dr..
Livingstone suggest opens up q vista OF magnifl-
cent possibilities, and even probabilities, from
which Imagination recoils dizzy. The civilization
great African mystery the extinction Of anthropo.
phagy, the abolition OF the slave trade the cOnnec-
ton Of two seas BY railway right through the
another generation should not see such and all OF
these things. For such q contamination posterity
to complete his great task, has need of more sup
plies and more State help, and that Is our i'm
mediate moral which the nation and the govern
ment should take to heart.
From the Paris American Register]
The success OF Mr. Stanley, correspondent Of the
NEW YORK HERALD, in his search for Doctor Liv-
ingstone, has brought out some curious facts re-
garding the previous English expeditions. and more
partc ulary that fitted out by the Geographical So
cety, at the expense Of the British public, which
was put under the charge of Lieutenant Dawson.
First, we are told by DR.. Livingstone himself that
the stores sent to him from England were long left
at Zanzibar, and finally sent on in charge OF
Arab traders, slavedeaers and thieves who
to appropriate the goods the moment
they were beyond the reach Of civilization.
Despite this experience, second lot OF goods was
entrusted to men Of known bad character-men
who had been signalled again and again as rascals
who could not be trusted with farthing. We
need not say that this met with the fate of
the former. During q period OF three years DIR.
not only received no relief but OF
the many letters sent to him through DR.. Kirk,
British Consul at Zanzibar. reached the wearied
but stout-hearted explorer When Mr.. STAN
ley was at Ujiji nine packets of letters
sent TO him from the European agent OF his
journal, DIR. HOsmer, were safely forwarded to
him through the American Consul at Zanzibar, 1t
makes no sort of difference whether these nine
only five for the fact Is none the less striking
that Mr.. Stanley received that number In the COM
paratively short space Of four months while Dr.
single line from home. The secret of this matter
would have long remained concealed had Stanley
failed in his gallant attempt but his success has
contemptible facts. We now know that
mass o his to Conduct D oRn that FOR yent
man has been summoned to answer before the bar
Of public opinion. Some OF our readers may re-
articles, for at that time 1t seemed clear to us,
from DIR. Kinks complete Indifference to Mr.. STAN
ley and from the sneering, unjust untruthful re-
work, and 1t was matter of indifference to him
whether or not supplies or letters ever reached the
courageous explofer. As he himself remarked, in
the presence of Mr.. Stanley and the American
Consul, GAS private individual he would do moth
ing, positively nothing, but -, as British
are not the exact words, perhaps. but we challenge
a denial that this Is the meaning, the strict sense,
of his remarks. In no way can we account for such
apathy to call 1t by no worse name, except on the
ground OF jealousy, and that such is the opinion Of
DR.. Livingstone himselfi Is evident from many eau
tous and gentlemany remarks In his letters to Mr..
James Gordon Bennett. Dr. Livingstone is too
kind-hearted man to make charges against any
one but upon the bare facts the public has already
made them for him, and DR.. Kirk can now explain
his conduct If it be possible to do 80. II not he
will be q disgraced man in the eyes of the world.
The secret history OF the last English expedition
is scarcely less curious disgracelul. Mr. Charles
New, for many years Methodist missionary in AZ
RIGA, has Just written long letter to the Times
full Of details ana insinuations. We do not know
the merits OF this quarrel nor do we care a straw
who is right or who is wrong; the bare facts are
sufficient Tor our purpose. When the Geographical
Society called for public subscriptions to send an
expedition in search of DR.. Livingstone the
money was Immediately forthcoming. The gencr
Gus British public was ready to give any sum for
this purpose The government gave the weight
OF its approval and not only sent money TO
the great explorer, but put the agents of the gov
eminent at the disposition of the society in so far
they could aid his work. Thus, Lieutenant
Dawson, with Lieutenant HEM second in COM
mand started out with the aid OF the British
people, the Geographical Society, the government,
and with the best wishes of the civilized world. AT
that period only Americans. and those who know
the nervous energy OF our race and the lndomtable
spirit they bring TO any undertaking, believed