The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-06

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In the HERALD of yesterday We published q
communication from one Of our London cor,
respondents summarizing the proceedings ol
the monthly meeting Of the Royal Geographic,
cal Society, held at the University of London.
on the 22d of April, the President of the
Society, Sir Henry Rawlinson, in the chair. I,
had become known previously that two letters
Kirk, the now well known British Consul a:
Zanzibar, regarding Dr. Livingstone and the
recent expeditions sent out in quest Of him. AMI
as was most natural in the circumstances. the
meeting was largely attended. other sciences
besides that of geography being well repre-
sented. Both of DR.. Kinks letters make DIS
tinct reference to Mr.: Stanley, the HxxAsa
correspondent and the conductor N the
HERALD search expedition. DIR, kirA hAi s>-
come acquainted with Mr.. Stanley wasie in
Zanzibar had had frequent CONVERSATIONS with
him; had, with Others. been amused with
SANKEY'S stories AS 10 how he passed
on details of the AbyssiniAn wAr t. New
York and outwitted the London eorras,,ead.
ents I; and, from what he SAW of the man. pr
Kirk had no hesitation in saying that both in
personal character and in regard 10 equipment
MIR. Stanley was quite equal 10 the task which
he had undertaken. DR.. Kinks own words are
these You wish me to say conhdentially.
what / think of DR.. Livingstone's position.
and l see that you are not averse TO taking any
measures that might lead to his being commu-
nicated with, if only fair prospect of success
offered This think Mr. Stanley will accom-
plish." This, we think, will be sufficient to
silence our numerous and envious rivals, who,
were pleased to regard our Livingstone search
expedition only as hoax, and who, in want
Of more useful employment, found in it suit
able and convenient matter for ridicule.
1t has gratfed US not little to notice that
while some Of our contemporaries have been
busy and detracting to the extent of their
ability, the most respectable journals Of this
continent have recognized our enterprise,
honored our success and melted out honestly
and ungrudgingly the praise which is due. In
more than one quarter whence praise is not to
be despised it has been candidly admitted that
no individual newspaper ever undertook so
gigantic an enterprise, and that no under
taking was ever more entitled to be crowned
with triumph We are pleased to know that
our learned societies both here and in Europe
appreciate and honor the aim and object
of our African expedition. We have
already in these columns published
the letter Of Judge Daily, President
Of the American Geographical Society,
letter which reveals the Judges clearness Of
head as well as goodness of heart, and which
finds in this expedition something honoring to
ourselves and creditable to our common coun-
there are at least some men who begin to un-
derstand the province and the increasing duties
as well as responsibilities Of the modern daily
newspaper. We do not attempt to conceal our
delight at this news from London 1t comes
in good time and stands US in good stead
Henceforth detractors may detract as they
think fit but doubters must cease to doubt
AS to the final result of the expedition, we do
not feel warranted to speak with too much con-
fidence. We cannot say quite SO much as was
said for us in a spirit of true kindness by one
Of our contemporaries, that 'the most daring
and the most generous undertaking of modern
journalism has been crowned with perfect sue
cess The most that we feel emboldened to
say is, that there is strong and not unreason-
able presumption that our correspondent has
actually found out DR.. Livingstone, the old man
with the pale face and the white beard In all
our dispatches relative to the safety of Living
stone there is singular and noteworthy con-
sistency. The first despatch, which was special
to the HERALD and which recognized Bombay
as its source, encouraged the belief
that Livingstone was safe with the
HERALD Stanley at Zanzibar. Next
days telegram stated the case more
clearly. The ship Abydos, which took out the
English search expedition to Zanzibar, had
gone on to Bombay and had conveyed thither
the intelligence that when it left Zanzibar the
report prevailed that Livingstone was safe with
the HERALD Stanley. Another despatch,
which appeared in all the London papers and
which was printed here simultaneously with
the latter, put the case still more clearly.
According to this despatch advices had
been received in London from Zanzi-
bar, dated as late rs the Goth Of
April, and announcing that 50 report.
was current here (Zanzibar) that Stanley, the
commander Of the New York HERALD expe-
dictionary search corps, was with Livingstone at
Ujiji in the month of January" DR.. Kinks
second letter. read at the Royal Geographical
Society," is dated 14th February, 1872. AT the
date of this letter DR.. Kirk had not had any
positive information of the whereabouts of
Stanley, or what had been his success. All
that he could say was. There have been many
rumors both concerning Mr. Stanley and the
Arabs, but nothing of DR.. Livingstone and
Ujiji." This, however proves and disproves
nothing. 1t only shows that at that date the
Doctor had heard of the trouble which Mr..
Stanley and his Arnb forces had had with the