that I was expected to speak till I got in, and this prevented my eating.  When Lord John Manners complimented me after my speech, I mentioned the effect the anticipation had on me.  To comfort me he said that the late Sir Robert Peel never enjoyed a dinner in these circumstances, but sat crumbling up his bread till it became quite a heap on the table....  My speech was not reported.”

“2d May.—­Met Mr. Elwin, formerly editor of the Quarterly.  He said that Forster, one of our first-class writers, had told him that the most characteristic speech was not reported, and mentioned the heads—­as, the slave-trade being of the same nature as thuggee, garrotting; the tribute I paid to our statesmen; and the way that Africans have been drawn, pointing to a picture of a woman spinning.  This non-reporting was much commented on, which might, if I needed it, prove a solace to my wounded vanity.  But I did not feel offended.  Everything good for me will be given, and I take all as a little child from its father.

“Heard a capital sermon from Dr. Hamilton [Regent Square Church], on President Lincoln’s assassination.  ’It is impossible but that offenses will come,’ etc.  He read part of the President’s address at second inauguration.  In the light of subsequent events it is grand.  If every drop of blood shed by the lash must be atoned for by an equal number of white men’s vital fluid,—­righteous, O Lord, are Thy judgments!  The assassination has awakened universal sympathy and indignation, and will lead to more cordiality between the countries.  The Queen has written an autograph letter to Mrs. Lincoln, and Lords and Commons have presented addresses to Her Majesty, praying her to convey their sentiments of horror at the fearful crime.”

“18th May, 1865.—­Was examined by the Committee [of the House of Commons] on the West Coast; was rather nervous and confused, but let them know pretty plainly that I did not agree with the aspersions cast on missions.”

In a letter to Mr. Webb, he writes a propos of this examination: 

“The monstrous mistake of the Burton school is this:  they ignore the point-blank fact that the men that do the most for the mean whites are the same that do the most for the mean blacks, and you never hear one mother’s son of them say, You do wrong to give to the whites.  I told the Committee I had heard people say that Christianity made the blacks worse, but did not agree with them.  I might have said it was ‘rot,’ and truly.  I can stand a good deal of bosh, but to tell me that Christianity makes people worse—­ugh!  Tell that to the young trouts.  You know on what side I am, and I shall stand to my side, Old Pam fashion, through thick and thin.  I don’t agree with all my side say and do.  I won’t justify many things, but for the great cause of human progress I am heart and soul, and so are you.”

Dr. Livingstone was asked at this time to attend a public meeting on behalf of American freedom.  It was not in his power to go, but, in apologizing, he was at pains to express his opinion on the capacity of the negro, in connection with what was going on in the United States: