The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-09-12
THE LIVINGSTONE STANLEY MYSTERY
DR.. LiyingstOnss Relations with the British
Government and the Royal Geo.
graphical Society.
stanley's Letter to the Observation-Disclosures
Dawson's Return-Extract Of Letter from Liv-
ingstone to Lord Observation-Disclosures Some
body Of Manipulating His Maps-Who
isItAThe Enmity ofths Royal Geo.
graphical Society Accounted For.


beginning to be called, seems to have lattery
taken on new phase
The continued restrictions and badgerng OF
portion of the English press, evidently working In
the interest of certain members OF the Royal
Geographical Society, have at last resulted In
declaration Of open on the part Of Mr. Stanley,
who in q savage letter to the Telegraph day or
two ago, stated his opinion In no very compliment
tary terms that the Royal Geographical Society
were far less interested in aiding ana succoring
Livingstone than in getting his geographical dis
coveres in advance, in order to manipulate them
to suit their own theories
1t was thought by many at the time that Mr..
Stanley had in this letter used unustihabe Ian
guagc towards the Royal Geographical Society.
Since then, however, Lieutenant Dawson has re.
turned, and two artices-One in the Standard the
other in the Daily Neacs-evidenty inspired by
him, have appeared in which the writer takes sub
stantlaly the same ground as Mr. Stanley and an
extract from a letter to Lord Clarendon from Liv-
tntstOne is published, in which he directly accuses
the Royal Geographical Society or somebody Of
having altered his maps and charts to suit them
selves, and states that when he demonstrated
against such alterations he was only answered with
gggle
We now begin to understand the reason Of the
continued ncreduity and enmity OF certain por-
ton OF the English press regarding Mr.. Stanley. and
we can begin to form some idea of the low cunning
which has characterized the proceedings OF certain
Of these learned qudnuncs, both in England and
the Continent who, taking their ease in their COM
Portable studies IKE Sir Henry Rawlnson, or drivel
ling over their pipes and beer, like the wouldbe
German savant Kiepert pretend to know more
about the interior Of Africa than Livingstone and
Stanley.
The following letter, addressed to the editor Of
the Standard will enable the reader to form some
opinion Of the relations between DR.. Livingstone
and the Royal Geographical Society,"
TIE VEIL OF MYSTERY
which still surrounds the proceedings OF DR.. Lfv-
tho part of the NEW YORK HERALD and Royal Geo
graphical Search Expeditions, may, to certain
extent, be pierced by careful examination OF the
relations in which the African traveller stands not
only to the government at home, bat also to the
Royal Geographical Society.
DR. LIyINGsroNE's RELATIONS WITH THE BRITISH
FOREIGN OFFICE.
His present relations to the Foreign once are
widely different from those under which he last
explored the Zambcsl. That last expedition was
undertaken with the full sanction and support
OF home authorities. DR.. Livingstone had
brought home glowing accounts OF the navga.
pie aINathes Of the % OF the MAXI
OF natural cotton fields wasting their sweetness in
solitudes In high hopes of promoting the cause of
Christianity and Of commerce the Iambesl cXpedi-
tiOn was organized by government Gunboats were
provided. and band OF scientific draughtsmen and
engineers-Dr. Kirk, Messrs Baines aud Thornton
and Captain acknowledgements to cooperate
with him. That expedition, except in geographical
discovery, proved a failure. At The outset a bar
was discovered at the mouth of the zambesi that
greatly impeded the progress OF the gunboats, and
SaIolo We're found to have disappeared, driven
away or destroyed by local enemies, and the eX
pected cotton ields proved to be scanty patches o.
ing spent eco 000 with no result except geographic
cal discoveries, government recalled the expedi
ton.
BRITISH ECONOMY.
When DR.. Livingstone again essayed exploration
OF the watershed to the north OF the Ianlbes II was
evident that the Foreign once looked coldly upon
his enterprise, and with national clamor for re-
trenchment, did not feel disposed to open their
purse-strlngs second time: They looked upon
him as bugbear to their principles OF economy !;
al nart 5 Sroynce e Se aGs
they accorded him $500 and the Office OF Consul TO
the interior tribes Of Africa, and with that and
other funds lie started on his mission. Before ne
left Zanzibar he received an intimation that the
$500 donation paid to him by the Foreign ONCE was
all the salary he was to expect Tor his Office OF
''Consul," and that more would in future be
allowed him. Feeling himself thus unrecog..
nized by government, he was on the point
OF resgning his unsalaried consulship but was
dissuaded by the influence OF DR.. Kirk. However,
further sum OF ai,oOO, which, at first refused had
subsequently, through the influence OF Sir r..
Murchlson, been voted HIM by the government, to
"enable him to complete his discoveries and TO
return home," he had received no further recogni-
ton Of his services, and no hope of any final re-
The same principle OF non-recognition was
strongly displayed by the Admiralty with refer
Expedition. on previous occasions African ex
plorers in the services such as Colonel Grant
Young, Captain Bcddingiied, had draw
full pay while thus engaged, and been allowe
present occasion the precedent was abandoned
Lieutenant Dawson was placed on hali-pay beIOr
an intimation that their period OF absence wOul
not be allowed to count as "sea time That ID
Livingstone bitterly feels his unrecognized positio
has been manifested ''Unsaared as yet" he de
scribes himself to Mr.. Stanley, aud hints that h
would like, and thinks that he deserves, vote OF
lump sum or pension in remuneration for hi
labors, to provide for his own old age and for thu
necessities OF his family.
DIR. LIvINGsToNE's RELATIONS WITH TIE ROYAL
GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY
Again, as to the relations between DR.. Living
stone and the Royal Geographical Society. II ha
been supposed by many that at least Dr. Living
stone Is acting the accredited envo- OF the Roya
Geographical Society in research, and that socet.
hat to get funds from the public for the late search ex
saSn As mfT q Ss e an the Sa
geographical Society as a Body. Though anon,
them he acknowledges divers valued persona
friends he dsciaims distinctly any relation wit
one OF his letters during this last expedition hal
been addressed TO thai society as body, bat onl,
privately to individual friends. Further, In lette
from him to Lord Clarendon. dated near Lake Bang
Weoo, July, 1865, WHICH letter is incorporated II
the report Of the Royal Geographical society, there
IL curious hiatus, us thus published by the Roya
Geographical Society. Certain Influences have kept
part OF this letter N the background However, We
can supply the sense the portion omit ted in the
report OF The Royal Geographical Society, and by
SO dong throw light not only upon their rea
sons Tor suppressing II, bat upon the general
relations OF Dr. Livingstone with the Royal Geo
graphical Society. 1t IS to the effect that his geo
graphical notes are not to fall INTO the hands OF the
Royal Geographical Society," that they nave been
''desecratej' on previous occasions to suit the
views OF individuals; and that when he demanded
the reason why he was only replied TO by a
''gggle." This omitted sentence Immediately fol
lows that published portion in which Dr. Living
stone lays stress upon the accuracy OF his surveys
and quotes the testimony OF Sir J. Maclear AS
trononer Royal to the Cape Observatory; OF lIr
Mann, his Assistant Astronomers and OF the late
Lord Elesmere, as to his accuracy From this We
may deduce that he Is hurt that the accuracy o
his levels and longtitudes has been doubted
by certain members OF the Royal Geo
graphical Society, and that they have
been corrected" and "doctored' at home, Il
do wit Or pyulOrafiGna n