“ Do yo u think yo u can settle all this, if we
commission y o u ? ”
While I live, there will be something done.
If I survive the time required to perform all the
w o rk , all shall be d one.”
The matter was for the moment suspended,
because Mr. James Gordon Bennett, o f the New
York H erald , had prior claims on my services.
A telegram was despatched to New Y o rk to
him: Would he join the D a ily Telegraph in
sending Stanley out to Africa, to complete
the discoveries o f S p ek e, Burton, and Livingstone?”
and, within twenty-four hours, my “ new
mission” to Africa was determined on as a joint
expedition, b y the laconic answer which the
cable flashed under the Atlantic: “ Ye s; Bennett.”
A few days before I departed for A fr ic a , the
D a lly Telegraph announced in a leading article
that its proprietors had united with Mr. James
Gordon Bennett in organizing an expedition o f
African discovery, under the command o f Mr.
Henry M. Stanley. “ The purpose o f the enterprise,
| it said, “ is to complete the w o rk left
unfinished b y the lamented death o f Dr. Livingstone;
to solve, if possible, the remaining problems
o f the g eo g rap h y o f Central Africa; and
to investigate and report upon the haunts o f the
slave-traders.” . . .... “ He will represent the two
nations whose common interest in the regeneration
o f Africa was so well illustrated when the
lost English explorer was rediscovered b y the
energetic American correspondent. In that memorable
journey, Mr. Stanley displayed the best
qualities o f an African traveller; and with no
inconsiderable resources at his disposal to reinforce
his own complete acquaintance with the
conditions o f African travel, it may be hoped
that v e ry important results will accrue from this
undertaking to the advantage o f science, humanity,
and civilisation.”
Tw o weeks were allowed me for purchasing
boats— a y aw l, a gig, and a barge— for giving
orders for pontoons, and purchasing equipment,
guns, ammunition, rope, saddles, medical stores,
and provisions; for making investments in gifts for
native chiefs; for obtaining scientific instruments,
stationery, & c. &c. T he barge was an invention
o f my own.
It was to be 40 feet long, 6 feet beam, and
30 inches d e ep , o f Spanish cedar 3/g inch thick.
When finished, it was to be separated into five
sections, each o f which should be 8 feet long.
If the sections should be over-weight, th ey were
to be again divided into halves for greater
facility o f carriage. The construction o f this
novel boat was undertaken b y Mr. James
Messenger, boat-builder, o f Teddington, near
London. T he pontoons were made b y Cording,
but though the workmanship was beautiful,
th ey were not a success, because the superior