LIVINGSTONE DAVID: (1813-1873) Scottish Missionary & Explorer of Africa. A good A.L.S., David Livingstone, four pages, 8vo, Hamilton, 1st September 1864, to Dr. Cumming. Livingstone announces 'I felt ashamed to go off without bidding you adieu on the morning after my return', explaining 'some delay occurred in getting Captain Greenhills carriage ready, and as it turned out I should have missed the steamer had I remained five minutes longer'. The explorer continues 'I could not trust myself against the temptation of your fishing & ''chopped heather'' and I have a speech at the British association of Bath hanging like a dark cloud over me, and producing an actual cold shiver every time I remember that up to this time not a word of it is penned. As soon as this note which you will kindly take as one of thanks for your very polite attentions I shall take off my coat and [start] at it with desperation though I am sensible that the written & spoken speech will have nothing in common but the ideas' and concludes 'I think that I left a book which I value as presented by the medical men of Oban in your house - if so I shall feel obliged if at any time you could send it to Hamilton'. One very slight trace of former mounting close to, but not affecting, the signature, otherwise VG £600-800