The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-02

John Livingstone on tho Explorers
Handwriting-An Interesting story
from Zanzibar.
II will be one of the curiosities of history,
when Livingstone's life becomes part Of it,
that the American expedition which rescued
him from actual want and possible death
should be doubted so persistently and so base
lessly in America. IF these doubts had arisen
at Zanzibar or in London, or among the fam
lily of the great explorer, they would be looked
on as the natural suspicious which would
enter the minds of those most interested be-
fore accepting as genuine the startling news
which brought to life, as it were, one long
given up for dead. Yet at Zanzibar, where the
means of judging the truth of the story were
tenfold greater than anywhere else, it was &C
cepted as genuine by Dr. Kirk and 30 con-
WINGED was Lieutenant Dawson of the COM
pleteness Of the HERALD expeditions success
that the English search expedition under his
command was abandoned. We have referred
hitherto to the family's acceptance Of the
truth and their grateful feelings for the
welcome news, and we have now the
pleasure to add to those already
published the recognition and thanks of John
Livingstone, the distinguished travellers
brother, now residing at Listowell, Canada, as
set forth in another column Of the HERALD, in
an interview with correspondent of this
journal. Astonishment Of the sturdiest kind
was his first feeling, and an expression of the
utter absurdity of any scepticism upon the
subject He had no doubts-none whatever.
The letter forwarded to him by Mr.. Stanley
was undoubtedly the handwriting of his
brother, and contained such private family
matter as could only be known to o brother,
and which was partly in response to the last
letter forwarded to Africa by him. This was
naturally omitted in the letter as published,
and was couched in the genial, trifling tone
which the world is beginning to admit to be
one of the characteristics of Livingstone in his
intimacy. For his use of "Americanisms" he
is, according to John Livingstone, indebted
vastly to his brother Charles, now Consul Of
Fernando Pc, who had resided at Rox-
bury, Mass, for several years, and
would not be likely to need very much
assistance in the matter, although we have no
doubt that it was supplied him. Evidence of
this kind we hold to be unimpeachable and
to prove by the shortest possible induction
that all incredulity on the point is, in John
Livingstone's language, cutter absurdity."
Our enterprising contemporary, the Sun,
in treating the matter editorially, after ex-
hausting the unolean fountain of Noe, falls to
reasoning and so falls into error. This Is
often done unconsciously. When the mind is
bent on proving point, a flying leap from
weak premises to strong Conclusion is fire.
quenty taken in the enthusiasm Of the mo-
ment. It's premises, based on alleged pre-
vious acts of Mr.. Stanley and his alleged skill
full penmanship, are certainly not strong
enough to reach the conclusion, in the face of
all proof to the contrary, that Stanley did not
find Livingstone. Yet arguing from these
premises, it writes as follows:-"For this
reason no certificate affirming the resemblance
or even the identity Of the handwriting in the
HERALD letters with that found in unquestion-
able manuscripts of Dr. Livingstone can settle
the controversy" On the point of ''resem-
blance'' it may have right on its side; but
how proof of the identify" Of the
letter to the HERALD cannot be sat
isfactory and conclusive is an argument
to be accounted for only on the supposition Of
enthusiasm in the cause it has taken up so Wig
orously. With Noes story we have nothing
to do In settling for ourselves the anthem
tioity Of Doctor Livingstone's letters to the
HERALD our attention has been turned to mat
tiers bearing thereon, and with the declaration
Of John Livingstone We hold the identity
established and the controversy settled"-a
conclusion with which we are sure all whose
aim is the truth will coincide.
The American bark Mary A. Way arrived in
this port yesterday, one hundred days frolS
Zanzibar, carrying personal communications
to the HERALD from our correspondent Cap
tain Russell, her commander, in an interview
published elsewhere, gives some interesting
information regarding the arrival of our expe-
dition at the coast, which happened two days
after his coming into port. The picture of
perfect confidence reposed at Zanzibar in the
narrative Of Mr.. Stanley which he gives
seems only to have been elected from the
worthy son of Neptune after he had been abso-
lutely astounded by the announcement that
doubling Thomases bloomed here in tropical
abundance. he was indignant, was Captain
Russell, and the actual measure of his indig-
nation can only be surmised in the emphasis
with which he describes the honors and COM
pliments showered upon our correspondent
After all it will be admitted that this absurd
chirographic tempest raised by puny indi-
vidual on Long Island, will not be without its
interesting and even comic points, illustrating
rather aptly the well known fact that those
who spend their energies on warning others