In spite of his literary work, the stream of public honors and public engagements began to flow very strongly.  The Prince Consort granted him an interview, soon after his arrival, in presence of some of the younger members of the Royal Family.  In March it was agreed to present him with the freedom of the City of London, in a box of the value of fifty guineas, and in May the presentation took place.  Most of his public honors, however, were reserved till the autumn.

The Missionary Travels was published in November, 1857, and the success of the book was quite remarkable.  Writing to Mr. Maclear, 10th November, 1857, he says, after an apology for delay: 

“You must ascribe my culpable silence to ‘aberration.’  I am out of my orbit, rather, and you must have patience till I come in again.  The book is out to-day, and I am going to Captain Washington to see about copies to yourself, the Governor, the Bishop, Fairbairn, Thompson, Rutherfoord, and Saul Solomon[51].  Ten thousand were taken by the London trade alone.  Thirteen thousand eight hundred have been ordered from an edition of twelve thousand, so the printers are again at work to supply the demand.  Sir Roderick gave it a glowing character last night at the Royal Geographical Society, and the Athenaeum has come out strongly on the same side.  This is considered a successful launch for a guinea book.”

[Footnote 51:  Livingstone was quite lavish with presentation copies; every friend on earth seemed to be included in his list.  He tried to remember every one who had shown kindness to himself and particularly to his wife and children.]

It has sometimes been a complaint that so much of the book is occupied with matters of science, geographical inquiries, descriptions of plants and animals, accounts of rivers and mountains, and so little with what directly concerns the work of the missionary.  In reply to this, it may be stated, in the first place, that if the information given and the views expressed on missionary topics were all put together, they would constitute no insignificant contribution to missionary literature.  But there was another consideration.  Livingstone regarded himself as but a pioneer in missionary enterprise.  During sixteen years he had done much to bring the knowledge of Christ to tribes that had never heard of Him—­probably no missionary in Africa had ever preached to so many blacks.  In some instances he had been successful in the highest sense—­he had been the instrument of turning men from darkness to light; but he did not think it right to dwell on these cases, because the converts were often inconsistent, and did not exemplify a high moral tone.  In most cases, however, he had been a sower of seed, and not a reaper of harvests.  He had no triumphs to record, like those which had gladdened the hearts of some of his missionary brethren in the South Sea Islands.  He wished his book to be a record of facts, not a mere register of hopes.