John Stuart Mill: A Criticism with Personal Recollections

MATHEMATICS; CLASSICS; BENTHAM. 17
derivation of the Axioms from the Definitions, as conforming to
Hobbes s doctrine that the science is founded on Definitions.
Approves also of the way the more elementary theorems are
deduced. Learns a very long French fable. Solves a problem
in West s Algebra that had baffled him for several years. Mr.
George has already engaged for him the best dancing-master in
the place. 28th. (Classical day.) Bathing as usual. Two eclogues
of Virgil, and a French grammatical treatise on Pronouns. Reads
some more of Legendre (resolution broken through already) :
thinks his line of deduction better than Euclid, or even than
West. Studies Bentham s Chrestomathic Tables (a vast and
minute scheme of the divisions of knowledge). Began the
Vocalium Judicium of Lucian. Goes for a second dancinglesson.
2 pth. Rather late in returning from the river. An
eclogue of Virgil ; finishes the Vocalium Judicium ; writes
French exercises, reads some of Boileau s little pieces ; is to have
Voltaire s works soon ; asks Mr. George about a Praxis in the
higher Mathematics, having performed over and over again all
the problems in Lacroix s Differential Calculus. Resolves more
problems of West, including the second of two that had long
puzzled him. After dinner began Lucian s Cataplus. 3oth.
Two eclogues of Virgil ; finished Cataplus ; more of Legendre,
discovered a flaw in one of his demonstrations ; wrote French
exercises ; read some of Sanderson s Logic ; also some of
Thomson s Chemistry. July ist. Treatise on Pronouns finished;
Sanderson ; began Lucian s Necyomantia : French exercises ;
finished first book of Legendre ; Thomson s Chemistry. Dan
cing-lesson. A singing-master engaged. 2nd. Georgics of
Virgil, 99 lines ; more of the Necyomantia before breakfast.
After breakfast, Thomson s Chemistry. Wrote Livre Geogra-
phique. In the evening the whole family go to Franconi s
Circus ; describes the exploits. Has to be measured for a new
suit, French fashion ; his English suit being inadmissible,
trousers too short, waistcoat too long.
The Russells call in the
evening, and there is an earnest talk on politics, English and
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