John Stuart Mill: A Criticism with Personal Recollections

88 LIEBIG S OPINION OF LOGIC. 1841-1848.
Before passing from this memorable winter, I may mention
that Liebig, in a reprint of his Animal Chemistry, handsomely
repaid the notice taken of his researches in the Logic : saying
"
of his amended views that he feels that he can claim no other
merit than that of having applied so some special cases, and
carried out farther than had previously been done, those prin
"
of research in natural science which have been laid down
ciples
in Mill s work. Mill exultingly remarked
"
The tree may be
known by its fruits. Schelling and Hegel have done nothing
of the kind."
Before arriving in London this year, I had another letter
(5th May). He delays to commence rewriting his book till he
sees the upshot of the Irish business. "The conduct of the
ministers is wretched beyond measure upon all subjects ;
nothing but the meanest truckling at a time when a man with a
decided opinion could carry almost anything triumphantly."
saw him as usual during the summer, but do not remember any
incidents of importance. Grote was in town for several weeks
on the publication of his third and fourth volumes, which was
a new excitement. I went down to Scotland in autumn, but,
having no longer any teaching-appointment there, I returned
to London in November, and entered the Government service ;
and was, therefore, in constant residence, until I saw fit to resign
in 1850. For this interval, I have not the advantage of
possessing any letters from Mill, and can only give a few
scattered recollections of the more impressive occurrences.
The Political Economy was published in the beginning of
1848. I am not about to criticize the work, as I mean to do
the subsequent writings, but I wish to offer a few remarks.
One modification in the laying out of the subject he owes, as I
have already said, to Comte s sociological distinction between
Statics and Dynamics. This is shown in the commencement
of the fifth book, entitled, "The Influence of the Progress
of Society in Production and Distribution ".
I
can believe,
although I am not a political economist, that this distinction
I