STANLEY THE EXPLORER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5112, 6 July 1878, Page 6

STANLEY THE EXPLORER.

The Publisher's Circular says : —"Mr H. M. Stanley's two most ardent friends and admirers, Colonel Yule and Mr Hyndmaiij not content with, the praise, mixed, however, with, mild reproof, which they have felt it to be a part of their duty to bestow upon him in the Pall Mall Gazette and other journals, have now collected together their otherwise * inaccessible ' correspondence, and issued it in a pamphlet form, a3 the * Record of a Protest' against the President and Council of the Royal Geographical Society, on account of the very warm reception which that eminent body gave Mr Stanley on his return to England. There seems, judging by the preface, to have been no special unanimity between these two authors. Colonel Yule abhors the word ovation, which he derives from the word ' ovis/ a sheep—and he declines to lead or follow or to mingle with a flock; he sticks to his ' newly-found friend,' not because he is ' absolutely agreed' with, him, but because he has had 'the courage of his opinions,' and has reproved the said flock face to face with becoming firmness and modesty. The galkmt colonel naturally admires pluck, and that is why he protests. Mr Hyndham protests because the ' great achievements,' which have shocked his own sensibilities, have failed to penetrate even the wool of the flinty-hearted flock— surely these gentlemen do 'protest too much.' The pamphlet is doubtless expected to effect some good purpose (though it is difficult to see what), and will probably have a very large gratuitous circulation. Meanwhile, another, of Mr Stanley's warmest friends and admirers his landlady— is, we hear, in a sad state of mental anxiety on his account. The burden of her complaint is, that he takes no exercise, that he eats nothing and drinks only tea, that he does nothing but write from morning till night, and, as she fully believes, from night till morning; His room would form an excellent study for an artist —fortunately it is large and airy, and offers some space for an occasional ' journey round' by way of exercise—but chairs, tables, sofas, and settees, and even, the floor are laden with books, news- ' papers, manuscripts, maps, and charts in most admirable confusion. No chambermaid has dared to touch, much less to dust, an article in that chamber since it has been occupied by the great traveller. Hia luncheon, composed of the choicest titbits his landlady can think of, is served with_ the greatest punctuality at twelve, and is frequently kept cooling onthesideboard till two or three o'clock, for both, breakfast table and master are fully occupied with maps or other documents, and cannot be disturbed for so unimportant a matter. When the tenderest of sweetbreads has cooled down to the consistency of leather,' then does Mr Stanley perhaps begin to think of tasting a little, but it is soon hurried off, and pipe and work resumed, and his landlady, who is proud of and most anxious to please him, is in despair, Hd sits all day long on a wicker stool, about eight inches high, and writes on a little round table of perhaps treble that height, just large enough to hold an inkpot, a quire of foolscap, and the flatbottomed meerschaum which has accompanied him through Africa. The adjoining large circular table is adorned in the centre with an ornamental flowerpot containing an ever-blooming heliotrope, which requires no tender nursing, for it is artificial. This table, like the others, is laden with books, MSS., and letter 3in the utmost possible disorder, notwithstanding which, however, in justice to Mr Stanley, it should be said that he can always put his hand in a moment on anything he wants in any part of the room. Hs has numerous callers during the day, and is always courteous to his visitors, though with a pre-occupied air, which says plainly, ' I wish you would go, for I long to be at my beloved work.' Happily, he does not as yet show any signs of the breakdown which his good hostess fears and predicts in consequence of his hard work and abstemious habits. On the contrary, his eye is as bright as ever, his voice and countenance as cheerful, and his step as firm and elastic. Although the book he i 3 writing has expanded under his hands to at least a huudred pages more than was first contemplated, he does not despair of completing his selfimposed task in the promised time, raid to this end he works on with heroic determination. The first volume, which finds a natural conclusion at the arrival of the expedition at Ujiji, ami forms a complete narrative in itself of surprisingly interesting and untold adventures, might easily be published by May Ist, and its issue would only whet the appetite for the even more interesting and exciting account of the Congo Expedition, which forms the substance of Volume 11. Some of his friends urge this plan upon him in order to afford him some little relaxation by postponing the issue of Volume II till the* month or six weeks following. If, however, the anticipated breakdown docs not intervene, nothing else will prevent his. carrying out his original programme, and. the complete work will appear en May 11th."

"Fanny Ellsleria still living, and is eigfctyfovir years of age. Siie carried a?l before her V>y her exquisite grace, evga ?s Jenny Lind conquered all hearts by her beautiful voice.

Ba-ley is a crop that shoal-.! be more generally sown in New Zealand. Good samples of that grain from. 2scw Z-;dand, sold kitj'.y iv Melbourne at from 6s 4d to 6s 6d [ er bushel. "For the first tim", ladies are now remitted to the lectures \vh oh arc being delivered afc the Koyal College of Surgeons in. top.don,