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Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2861, 16 April 1878, Page 2

As we propose shortly to continue from The Dally Telegraph the narrative of Mr H. M. Stanley's journey through Central Africa, it may not he uninteresting to give some extracts from the same source (The Telegraph in conjunction with the New York Herald has borne the whole expense of the Anglo-American Expedition brought to such a successtul issue) of Mr Stanley's journey as related in letters written by himself, and in continuation of the Tery graphic accounts we hare from tine to time published in these columns from The Daily Telegraph. We do so the more readily because we know that in this community the letters of Mr Stanley hare been read with great interest by hundreds of persons who, but for the publication in these columns of Mr Stanley's graphic descriptions of his adventures, would hare remained in ignorance of the,; progress of geographical discoveries in Central Africa. \ Our excerpts, preceding more general details, are as follows:—" He investigated the Lukuga inlet, supposed by Captain Cameron to be (he draingate of Tanganyika; established the remarkable fact that the great, tarn is a reservoir not yet quite filled, but destined by and by to pour the surplusage of a hundred streams into the Lualaba; and, after thiji and other astonishing results of energy and devotion to his mission, came back to Ujtji to prepare for the grandest

purpose of bis Expedition. Wo have not spoken, and cannot spe:».k, adequately, of the difficulties which had been already overcome by him ; of his perilous adventures by land, and water in the Nyanzas ; of his losses in marching and fighting ; of the pestilence which thinned his ranks in Ujiji, and of the immense obstacles which, accumulated to daunt him from the last and greatest of his labours. This we may state, that among our despatches sent to him at Ujiji, with the latest maps and books containing Captain Cameron's narrative, there was one couched in these terms : • Should this find you on the banks of the Lualaba, you will have the last and grandest problem of African geography in your hands. Cling to the river if you can and if your circumstances permit. The difficulty will bo rast, but if you live to trace the tirer to its mouth Africa has no longer n,secret. You yourself must decide, for this is perhaps death or glory.' Mr Stanley did not receive that communication ; but ho underatood the splendid opportunity liefore him, and chose for himself to risk death in fulfilling his mission to the utmost. The result is that which all the world now knows and prsiaes. He has added to tae lonjj list of geographical triumphs which we have briefly enumerated the imperishable fame associated with the identification and exploration of the grand channel of_ the Livingstone, bearing the precious fruits of this final discovery through perils so manifold, and to a less resolute man so overpowering', that—while we remember sadly the generous lives which have actually been sacrificed to obtain such a noble reward for those who equipped the expedition—we well know that, again and again, our dauntless Commissioner has himself in our sarvice looked into the face of Death, and that the perfect trust we reposed in him has been justified a thousand times oven . . • There

is a touch of sorrow, as well as a feeling of pride and triumph, in saying that Mr Stanley must figure to-night as the last, or nearly the last, of those chief discoverers who give mankind acquaintance with whole zones and continents of (heir planet. He brings us full knowledge of many a region and more than one splendid inland sea, which was imperfectly mapped before; he can tell us where the utmost fountains of the JC^ile spring forth; he knows, having alone of living Europeans beheld them, the mysteries of many and many a stretch of wild upland and wooded valley from Usukuma to Ulegga; but the grand gift of his journey is that superb and kingly channel which, heretofore winding unseen and dimly guessed at like the river of a dream, has at length been tracked and navigated from its higher waters to its vr outh by this our hero, who has thus returned home to us through all shapes of peril, all forms of death, all obstacles, and all sufferings, to communicate to science and civilisation the last great mystery of Africa, and to open to commerce the way by which an opulent intercourse will by and by regenerate the dark continent. . . . The charges brought against Mr Stanley's humanity were indignantly answered by us during his absence, but deserve no further notice in view of the recorded and completed facts. The truly brave are never otherwise than just and merciful; and, though our Commissioner was not quite the man meekly to allow murderous savages to rob him of the harvest of his travels, together with his own life and those of bis followers and friend?, the record of many a page of his wanderings, and the devoted attachment of his black companions, will conclusively prove that goodness of heart which he unites with a natural military genius and a courage beyond all question. To the last quality sufficient witness is borne by the memorable day when he bade his Arabs place him on the north bank of the Livingstone,and, with 'death or glory' before him, committed his fortunes to the mysterious river. To the first, his behaviour to his negro servants testifies, and the narrative of the 'Homeward Journey,' the first portion of which we print this morning, will relate how he would not quit these fuithful men until he had left them safe in their Zanzibar homes Africans can never forget this concluding act of the great Expedition. Years, generations, hence the people of the Eastern Coast will remember and extol the goodness as well as the fearlessness and unfailing fortune of the White Man, who at the close of so exhausting an exploration sailed round the continent to take his 'Faithfuls' home. The Anglo-American Expedition is, as we have said, crowned and completed by this evening's celebration. We rejoice beyond measure at its gratifying success, while we mourn the fate which has forbidden the two gallant and deserving young Englishmen who shared its perils to participate in the public recognition of that success. We sadly feel that the parents of Edward and Frank Pocock, who will be present to-night, have contributed the most touching and priceless gifts of all to this victory of geographical science. That that victory may bring blessings to Africa, and open the Continent to an intercourse benefiting its children and enriching mankind, is the aspiration wherewith we write our last words upon the great undertaking which we had the good fortune to originate, and which has been happily carried to a triumphant conclusion.