The New York herald., 1872-08-29
Interesting Information Regarding Ills Habits,
Expressions, Opinions and
Lines Of Thought.
AS BRAVE AS THEY MAKE THEM"
His Love of America and Hatred
of Slavery.
Americans and Americanisms Not
a Novelty to Him.
"SOME CONSIDERABLE"

The publication in the HERALD OF the 27th In.
slant Of the fac-simile of DIR. David Livngstone's
letter Of thanks to the editor OF the NEW YORK
HERALD, which caused widespread feeling of in
terest relative to the great geOgrapher and African
explorer was shared In very marked manner by
gentleman at present resident in this city who
was at one time an intimate friend of DR..
Livtngstones. On the afternoon OF the same
day that gentleman called at the HERALD ONCE and
requested an interview with the editor. This hav-
ing been accorded, the gentleman briefly explained
his relations with the explorer, confessed his con.
viction OF the verismilitude of the transcript in
that days HERALD and requested to see the origi-
nal letter. This was complied with, and on behold
ing the letter he scanned 1t for moment and then
exclaimed
81 am willing to make afidavit that that Is
THE HANDWRITING OF pocroR LIVINGSTONE.
He further stated that he had several letters from
Livingstone In his possession, written Immediately
previous to the latter starting on his expedition
up the Rovuma River In 1856. He had apart from
the Jnc-sfnfle and the original letter ITSELF observed
several striking resemblances to Livingstone in the
letters OF the commander Of the HERALD expedi
tion in Africa when describing the great mission
ary traveller which
LEFT HIM NO ROOM FOR DOUBT "
as to the good faith and truthfuness of everything
therein stated. The question Of this honesty of
description of events having been raised by contem
poraries Of the HERALD, and certain individual
named Noe, through one OF them, he called at the
once that his mite OF testimony might help to con-
firm in the public mind what he himself, who had
means ofjudging, knew to be the truth.
In the interview with the HERALD correspondent
published in the London Telegraph he mad observed
on Its appearance in the HERALD that letter was
carried to Alden by Mr.. Stanley and there posted
addressed by Dr. Livingstone, which although
misspelt In printing he recognized as for him.
Leaving his name and address, he departed with
the determination to search among his papers and
produce If necessary the lettcrs he possessed In
the caligraphy ofLivingstone. Yesterday afternoon
accordingly reporter OF the HERALD took his way
down town one block below Wall street and turned
into Exchange place. He then bore to the right
into Exchange court and hating before the door of
No. 2. scanned the shingles which literally covered
the wall on either side OF the entrance. 1t was all
correct At No. p he found evidence that he could
discover the Office of
WILLIAM +. sTEARNs,
and without further ado he mounted two flights OF
STAIRS and traversing wide airy passage, entered
the efice indicated. A courteous clerk referred
him to a gentleman seated behind an office rail-
ing near the window. This gentleman quietly an
nouncec himself as the person for whom the re-
porter had inquired, and invited him to
seat by his desk. Mr.. Stearns Is
young man OF thirty-two or thirty
three years, slightly above the medium height and
trinity built. pair OF clear bright eyes give
frank expression to his somewhat bronzed face,
which. with u good forehead, moderately aquiline
nose, a welset mouth and fair, well-trimmed
beard gives one the impression OF well-to-do
careful, sefcontained man. lie was at once ap-
prised of the reporters business, and, after an ex
change OF salutations, said in his quiet way
l had some doubt after left the HERALD once
that would be able to lay my hands on the letters
from DR.. Livingstone, but found them =
Here Mr.. Stearns took from drawer number
efletters
WRITTEN ON BLUE NOTE PAPER
which he looked over for a moment, and then laid
before the reporter. The first impulse was natu-
rally an examination OF the characters rather than
the words they formed or the ideas they tran
scribed.
'.Look.r exclaimed Mr.. Stearns, "at the general
appearance, the manner OF the writing; the same
characteristics the same formation the very habit
OF writing along the margin as In the letter saw
yesterday"
There was no mistaklng II. The same bold hand,
the peculiarlties OF lettering, capitalizing and
letter joining were there. The size OF the
Ao'se', hV"cNcft was sometDing larger, Dut
the characteristics were the same. pardonable
enthusiasm over this unlcoked.for corroboration
occupied some moments, when Mr.. stearns com.
mcnced reading the letters aloud. Interrupting
himself for moment he said -
did you see todays SUM- and the use IL makes
OF the HEHALD's Joc-sfntie TO place the writing OF
Stanley beside IT addressed TO this man Noef',
A copy OF the sun was sent FOR. and Mr.. stearns
SMILED AT THE IMPLIED Likeness
OF the two handwritlngs.
Compare said he, "that fac-simile with these
letters addressed TO me, and say could any one
writing hand like Mr. staney's forge either
one p,
The reporter joined audlby in the doubt, leaving,
however, as was his duty, the strong assertion OF
the same to the gentleman beside him. Having
thus comfortably disposed OF the converted" trav-
eller In Asia Minor, the question OF disputed CHI
Biography was allowed to nestle where the wood
bine twineth.n
FIRST ACQUAINTANCE
"Where and when, might I ask" querlcd the re-
porter, "did you first make the acquaintance OF
Doctor Livingstonefn
"ln 1866, on board the steamer which carried
both TO Bombay lie was on the way to Africa and
TO join the headquarters of my house--Stearns
Hobart Company. had never seen him before
and was so much charmed with the man that we
became fast friends long before we had reached
portr
''Your acquaintance, OF course, continued r'
eyes. Doctor Livingstone made my home his
headquarters during his stay. While nttnQ out his