RAWLINSON , President of the Royal Geographical Society of London to General Schenck , Envoy Extraordinary and, April 4, 1873

Sir Henry Rawlinson to General Schenck.

Excellency: I have been requested by the council of the Royal Geographical Society of London to hand to you, for transmission to the United States, the gold medal which was awarded by them at a special meeting, held during last autumn, to Mr. H. M. Stanley, for the important service rendered by him to the cause of geographical science in his adventurous journey to Lake Tanganiyaka, whereby he was enabled to afford succor to Dr. Livingstone in his extreme distress, and to bring to Europe the journals and papers of the great African traveler.

It was a matter of much regret to the council that under the regulations of the society they were unable to present the medal to Mr. Stanley in person, before he left England in last November, but they are happy to think that the testimony which the award of the council is intended to offer to Mr. Stanley’s energy and perseverance will be enhanced in value by its being transmitted to its destination through the representative of the illustrious nation to which that gentleman belongs.

I have the honor to be, excellency, your faithful servant,