The desponding views of his work which we find in such entries in his Journal as that of 20th May must not be held to express his deliberate mind.  It must not be thought that he had thrown aside the motto which had helped him as much as it had helped his royal countryman, Robert Bruce—­“Try again.”  He had still some arrows in his quiver.  And his short visit to Bombay was a source of considerable encouragement.  The merchants there, who had the East African trade in their hands, encouraged him to hope that a settlement for honest traffic might be established to the north of the region over which the Portuguese claimed authority.  As Livingstone moved homeward he was revolving two projects.  The first was to expose the atrocious slave-trading of the Portuguese, which had not only made all his labor fruitless, but had used his very discoveries as channels for spreading fresh misery over Africa.  The thought warmed his blood, and he felt like a Highlander with his hand on his claymore.  The second project was to find means for a new settlement at the head of the Rovuma, or somewhere else beyond the Portuguese lines, which he would return in the end of the year to establish.  Writing a short book might help to accomplish both these projects.  As yet, the idea of finding the sources of the Nile was not in his mind.  It was at the earnest request of others that he undertook the work that cost him so many years of suffering, and at last his life.

CHAPTER XVII.

SECOND VISIT HOME.

A.D. 1864-65.

Dr. Livingstone and Sir R. Murchison—­At Lady Palmerston’s reception—­at other places in London—­Sad news of his son Robert—­His early death—­Dr. Livingstone goes to Scotland—­Pays visits—­Consultation with Professor Syme as to operation—­Visit to Duke of Argyll—­to Ulva—­He meets Dr. Duff—­At launch of a Turkish frigate—­At Hamilton—­Goes to Bath to British Association—­Delivers an Address—­Dr. Colenso—­At funeral of Captain Speke—­Bath speech offends the Portuguese—­Charges of Lacerda—­He visits Mr. and Mrs. Webb-at Newstead—­Their great hospitality—­The Livingstone room—­He spends eight months there writing his book—­He regains elasticity and playfulness—­His book—­Charles Livingstone’s share—­He uses his influence for Dr. Kirk—­Delivers a lecture At Mansfield—­Proposal made to him by Sir R. Murchison to return to Africa—­Letter from Sir Roderick—­His reply—­He will not cease to be a missionary—­Letter to Mr. James Young—­Overtures from Foreign Office—­Livingstone displeased—­At dinner of Royal Academy—­His speech not reported—­President Lincoln’s assassination—­Examination by Committee of House of Commons—­His opinion on the capacity of the negro—­He goes down to Scotland—­Tom Brown’s School Days—­His mother very ill—­She rallies—­He goes to Oxford—­Hears of his mother’s death—­Returns—­He attends examination of Oswell’s school—­His speech—­Goes to London, preparing to leave—­Parts from Mr. and Mrs. Webb—­Stays with Dr. and Mrs. Hamilton—­Last days in England.