“It will not be denied,” concludes the letter, “that those who, like your Majesty, have been placed over so many human souls, have a serious responsibility resting upon them in reference to their future welfare.  The absence also of Portuguese women In the colony is a circumstance which seems to merit the attention of Government for obvious reasons.  And if any of these suggestions should lead to the formation of a middle class of free laborers, I feel sure that Angola would have cause to bless your Majesty to the remotest time.”

Dr. Livingstone has often been accused of claiming for himself the credit of discoveries made by others, of writing as if he had been the first to traverse routes in which he had really been preceded by the Portuguese.  Even were it true that now and then an obscure Portuguese trader or traveler reached spots that lay in Dr. Livingstone’s subsequent route, the fact would detract nothing from his merit, because he derived not a tittle of benefit from their experience, and what he was concerned about was, not the mere honor of being first at a place, as if he had been running a race, but to make it known to the world, to bring it into the circuit of commerce and Christianity, and thus place it under the influence of the greatest blessings.  But even as to being first, Livingstone was careful not to claim anything that was really due to others.  Writing from Tette to Sir Roderick in March, 1856, he says:  “It seems proper to mention what has been done in former times in the way of traversing the continent, and the result of my inquiries leads to the belief that the honor belongs to our country.”  He refers to the brave attempt of Captain Jose da Roga, in 1678, to penetrate from Benguela to the Rio da Senna, in which attempt, however, so much opposition was encountered that he was compelled to return.  In 1800, Lacerda revived the project by proposing a chain of forts along the banks of the Coanza.  In 1815, two black traders showed the possibility of communication from east to west, by bringing to Loanda communications from the Governor of Mozambique.  Some Arabs and Moors went from the East Coast to Benguela, and with a view to improve the event, “a million of Reis (L142) and an honorary captaincy in the Portuguese army was offered to any one who would accompany them back—­but none went.”  The journey had several times been performed by Arabs.

“I do not feel so much elated,” continued Dr. Livingstone, “by the prospect of accomplishing this feat.  I feel most thankful to God for preserving my life, where so many, who by superior intelligence would have done more good, have been cut off.  But it does not look as if I had reached the goal.  Viewed in relation to my calling, the end of the geographical feat is only the beginning of the enterprise.  Apart from family longings, I have a most intense longing to hear how it has fared with our brave men at Sebastopol.  My last scrap of intelligence