John Stuart Mill: A Criticism with Personal Recollections

CHAPTER IV.
1849-1873.
WHAT I have to say on Mill s ten years from 1848 to
1858 may be conveniently introduced by a reference
to the Autobiography, p. 237. He states that for a considerable
time after the publication of the Political Economy, he pub
lished no work of magnitude. He still occasionally wrote in
periodicals, and his correspondence with unknown persons on
questions of public interest swelled to a considerable amount.
He wrote, or commenced, various essays on human and social
subjects, and kept a watch on the progress of public events.
The year 1850 was chiefly noted for the first important
revision of the Logic, namely, for the third edition. He had to
answer many attacks upon it, including a pamphlet by Whewell.
As I was absent from London while this was going on, I had a
good mrany letters from him, chiefly on Whewell s criticism, of
the weakness of which he had a very decided opinion. I
suggested some alterations and additional examples, but I
scarcely remember what they were. The edition was printed
in November ; and no revision of anything like the same extent
was undertaken till the eighth edition came out in 1872.
The Political Economy was subject to more frequent revisions,
and occupied a good deal of his attention at one time or other,
but I did not keep pace with him on that subject.
In spring, 1851, took place his marriage to Mrs. Taylor In
autumn of that year, I resumed my abode in London, and