Cecil, Richard, 1799-1863. Autograph letter signed to Rev. W. Ellis, from Ongar

Object Details

General note: Some lines missing. M098 is accession number in the Russell E. Train inventory list of the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History.

Collection Creator: Train, Russell E., 1920-2012; Russell E. Train Africana Collection (Smithsonian. Libraries)

See more items in: Russell E. Train Africana collection; Russell E. Train Africana collection / Series 5: Manuscripts

Collection Rights: The collection is housed in the Joseph F. Cullman 3rd Library of Natural History, which is open to researchers Monday through Friday in the afternoons, from 1:30 to 5:00 p.m.; morning visits are by appointment only. Please call (202) 633-1184 or email AskaLibrarian@si.edu for an appointment.

Scope and Contents note: Concerning the progress of two of his pupils, David Livingstone and Joseph Moore. David Livingstone was interviewed by the Directors of the London Missionary Society in August 1838, when they accepted him, on probation, as a potential missionary. He was sent to Rev. Richard Cecil, at Chipping Ongar in Essex to learn Latin, Greek, and Theology. After this he was to go to Theological College and then complete his medical studies. This letter appears to be an early report from Cecil to the Directors of the Mission on Livingstone's progress.