John Stuart Mill: A Criticism with Personal Recollections

162 DESCRIPTION OF GENERAL SOCIETY. 1849-1872.
His remarks (Autobiography, p. 227)
as to his withdrawal
.from general society, at the close of the political decade, 1830-
40, have naturally exposed him to pretty sharp criticism.
"
General society, as now carried on in England, is so insipid
an affair, even to the persons who make it what it is, that it is
kept up for any reason rather than the pleasure ";
it affords and
so on. It is difficult to recognize the appositeness of the
censure. General society is a very large phrase ;
it comprises
coteries where such a man as Mill would be out of his element,
and others where he might discuss any subject, and utter any
opinions that he pleased.
It was no doubt a saving of time to
renounce going into society ; but it was accompanied with
some loss, for which he makes no allowance. There were
other societies, besides the Political Economy Club, where he
could have occasionally gone with considerable profit. Before
hazarding all the opinions contained in the Essays on Religion,
he would have done well to have discussed them with a variety
of persons whom it would not be difficult to name.
In expressing himself on matters that he very much disliked,
he was at times exceedingly sharp and plain-spoken. One
example is given by Mr. Holyoake,
in connexion with the
population question. In other cases, I have known him very
unceremonious in his expressions of disapproval. I never had
any occasion to complain of his manner, so far as I myself
was concerned ; he was, on the contrary, unremittingly courteous
as well as kind. But the things that he said to other people,
made one feel that he might take a sudden and inexplicable
turn. Then, it was a theory of his to be more frank and out
spoken than the common notions of good-breeding would
allow ; with this qualification, that he expected to be treated
to the same frankness in return. We must carefully exonerate
him from rudeness of language ; his refinement and tact were
perfect ; he could clothe a very severe remark in an unexcep
tionable form. For many years, he was wont to encourage
young men to send him their productions for criticism and