第2章 James Mill(2)

The Journal professed to give a systematic survey of literary,scientific,and philosophical publications.For the scientific part Mill was helped by Thomson.His own contributions show that,although clearly a rationalist,he was still opposed to open infidelity.A translation of Villers'History of the Reformation implies similar tendencies.Other literary hack-work during this and the next few years is vaguely indicated.Mill was making about £500a year or something more during his editorships,and thought himself justified in marrying.On 5th June 1805he became the husband of Harriett Burrow,daughter of a widow who kept a private lunatic asylum originally started by her husband.The Mills settled in a house in Pentonville belonging to Mrs.Burrow,for which they paid £50a year.

The money question soon became pressing,the editorships vanished,and to make an income by periodical writing was no easy task.His son observes that nothing could be more opposed to his father's later principles than marrying and producing a large family under these circumstances.Nine children were ultimately born,all of whom survived their father.The family in his old home were an additional burthen.

His mother died before his departure from Scotland.His father was paralysed,and having incautiously given security for a friend,became bankrupt.His only brother William,died soon afterwards,and his only sister,Mary,married one of her father's journeymen named Greig,and tried to carry on the business.The father died about 1808,and the Greigs had a hard struggle,though two of the sons ultimately set up a business in Montrose.

James Mill appears to have helped to support his father,whose debts he undertook to pay,and to have afterwards helped the Greigs.They thought,it seems,that he ought to have done more,but were not unlikely to exaggerate the resources of a man who was making his way in England.Mill was resolute in doing his duty,but hardly likely to do it graciously.At any rate,in the early years,it must have been a severe strain to do anything.

In spite of all difficulties Mill,by strict frugality and unremitting energy,managed to keep out of debt.In the end of 1806he undertook the history of British India.This was to be the great work which should give him a name,and enable him to rise above the herd of contemporary journalists.He calculated the time necessary for its completion at three years,but the years were to be more than trebled before the book was actually finished.At that period there were fewer facilities than there could now be for making the necessary researches:and we do not know what were the reasons which prompted the selection of a subject of which he could have no first-hand knowledge.

The book necessarily impeded other labours;and to the toil of writing Mill added the toil of superintending the education of his children.His struggle for some years was such as to require an extraordinary strain upon all his faculties.Mill,however,possessed great physical and mental vigour.He was muscular,well-made,and handsome;he had marked powers of conversation,and made a strong impression upon all with whom he came in contact.He gradually formed connections which effectually determined his future career.

II.BENTHAM'S LIEUTENANT

The most important influence in Mill's life was the friendship with Bentham.This appears to have begun in 1808.Mill speedily became a valued disciple.He used to walk from Pentonville to dine with Bentham in Queen's Square Place.Soon the elder man desired to have his new friend nearer at hand.In 1810Mill moved to the house in Bentham's garden,which had once belonged to Milton;when this proved unsuitable,he was obliged to move to a more distant abode at Stoke Newington;but finally,in 1814,he settled in another house belonging to Bentham,1Queen's Square,close under the old gentleman's wing.Here for some years they lived in the closest intimacy.The Mills also stayed with Bentham in his country-houses at Barrow Green,and afterwards at Ford Abbey.The association was not without its troubles.Bentham was fanciful,and Mill stern and rigid.No one,however,could be a more devoted disciple.The most curious illustration of their relations is a letter written to Bentham by Mill,19th September 1814,while they were both at Ford Abbey.Mill in this declares himself to be a 'most faithful and fervent disciple'of the truths which Bentham had the 'immortal honour'of propounding.He had fancied himself to be his master's favourite disciple.No one is so completely of Bentham's way of thinking,or so qualified by position for carrying on the propaganda.Now,however,Bentham showed that he had taken umbrage at some part of Mill's behaviour.An open quarrel would bring discredit upon both sides,and upon their common beliefs.The great dangers to friendship are pecuniary obligation and too close intimacy.Mill has made it a great purpose of his life to avoid pecuniary obligation,though he took pride in receiving obligations from Bentham.He has confined himself to accepting Bentham's house at a low rent,and allowing his family to live for part of the year at Bentham's expense.He now proposes so to arrange his future life that they shall avoid an excessively close intimacy,from which,he thinks,had arisen the 'umbrage.'The letter,which is manly and straightforward,led to a reconciliation,and for some years the intercourse was as close as ever.5Mill's unreserved adoption of Bentham's principles,and his resolution to devote his life to their propagation,implies a development of opinion.He had entirely dropped his theology.In the early years of his London life,Mill had been only a rationalist.He had by this time become what would now be called an agnostic.

He thought 'dogmatic atheism'absurd,says J.S.Mill;6but he held that we can know nothing whatever as to the origin of the world.'