Dr. Livingstone had said at Quilimane that if it were the will of God that he should do the work of exploration and settlement of stations which was indispensable to the opening up of Africa, but which the Directors did not then seem to wish him to undertake, the means would be provided from some other quarter.  At the meeting of the British Association in Dublin, a movement was begun for getting the Government to aid him.  The proposal was entertained favorably by the Government, and practically settled before the end of the year.  In February, 1858, Dr. Livingstone received a formal commission, signed by Lord Clarendon, Foreign Secretary, appointing him Her Majesty’s Consul at Quilimane for the Eastern Coast and the independent districts in the interior, and commander of an expedition for exploring Eastern and Central Africa.  Dr. Livingstone accepted the appointment, and during the last part of his stay in England was much engaged in arranging for the expedition.  A paddle steamer of light draught was procured for the navigation of the Zambesi, and the various members of the expedition received their appointments.  These were—­Commander Bedingfield, R.N., Naval Officer; John Kirk, M.D., Botanist and Physician; Mr. Charles Livingstone, brother of Dr. Livingstone, General Assistant and Secretary; Mr. Richard Thornton, Practical Mining Geologist; Mr. Thomas Baines, Artist and Storekeeper; and Mr. George Rae, Ship Engineer; and whoever afterward might join the expedition were required to obey Dr. Livingstone’s directions as leader.

“We managed your affair very nicely,” Lord Palmerston said to Livingstone at a reception at Lady Palmerston’s on the 12th December.  “Had we waited till the usual time when Parliament should be asked, it would have been too late.”  Lord Shaftesbury, at the reception, assured him that the country would do everything for him, and congratulated him on going out in the way now settled.  So did the Lord Chancellor (Cranworth), Sir Culling Eardley, and Mr. Calcraft, M.P.

Dr. Livingstone was on the most friendly terms with the Portuguese Ambassador, the Count de Lavradio, who ever avowed the highest respect for himself, and a strong desire to help him in his work.  To get this assurance turned into substantial assistance appeared to Livingstone to be of the very highest importance.  Unless strong influence were brought to bear on the local Portuguese Governors in Africa, his scheme would be wrecked.  The Portuguese Ambassador was then at Lisbon, and Livingstone had resolved to go there, to secure the influence from headquarters which was so necessary.  The Prince Consort had promised to introduce him to his cousin, the King of Portugal.  There were, however, some obstacles to his going.  Yellow fever was raging at Lisbon, and moreover, time was precious, and a little delay might lead to the loss of a season on the Zambesi.  At Lady Palmerston’s reception, Lord Palmerston had said to him that Lord Clarendon might manage the