As a man, a Christian, a missionary, a philanthropist, and a scientist, Livingstone ranks with the greatest of our race, and shows the minimum of infirmity in connection with the maximum of goodness.
Nothing can be more telling than his life as an evidence of the truth and power of Christianity, as a plea for Christian Missions and civilization, or as a demonstration of the true connection between religion and science.
So many friends have helped in this book that it is impossible to thank all in a preface.

Most of them are named in the body of the work.
Special acknowledgments, however, are due to the more immediate members of Dr.Livingstone's family, at whose request the work was undertaken; also to his sisters, the Misses Livingstone, of Hamilton, to Mr.Young, of Kelley, to the venerable Dr.Moffat, and Mrs.Vavasseur, his daughter.

The use of valuable collections of letters has been given by the following (in addition to the friends already named): The Directors of the London Missionary Society; Dr.Risdon Bennett; Rev.G.D.

Watt; Rev.Joseph Moore; Rev.W.Thompson, Cape Town; J.B.Braithwaite, Esq.; representatives of the late Sir R.I.Murchison, Bart., and of the late Sir Thomas Maclear; Rev.Horace Waller, Mr.and Mrs.Webb, of Newstead Abbey, Mr.P.Fitch, of London, Rev.Dr.Stewart, of Lovedale, and Senhor Nunes, of Quilimane.

Other friends have forwarded letters of less importance.