John Stuart Mill: A Criticism with Personal Recollections

RETURN TO ENGLAND. 27
He returned to England in July, 1821, after a stay of four
teen months. He sufficiently describes (Autobiography, p. 56)
the fruits of his stay in France, which included a familiar know
ledge of the French language, and, an acquaintance with ordinary
French literature. If we may judge from what he says after
wards, his acquaintance with the literature was strictly ordinary;
he knew nothing of the French Revolution, and it was at a
much later period that he studied French authors for the im
provement of his style.
He had still nearly two years before entering on official life :
and he tells us how these were occupied. His father had be
come acquainted with John Austin, who assisted him in Roman
Law., his destination being the bar. He also got deep into
Bentham for the first time, and began Psychology. He now
read the history of the French Revolution. An undated letter
to his father probably belongs to this period. He was on a
visit to Mr. and Mrs. Austin at Norwich. The letter begins
with a short account of his studies. He read Blackstone (with
Mr. Austin) three or four hours daily, and a portion of Bentham s
"Introduction" (I suppose the "Morals and Legislation") in the
evening. Among other things,
"
I have found time to write
the defence of Pericles in answer to the accusation which you
have with you. I have also found some time to practise the
delivery of the accusation, according to your directions." Then
follows an account of a visit of ten days with the Austins to the
town of Yarmouth, with a description of the place itself. The
larger part of the letter is on the politics of Norwich, where
"
the Cause (Liberal) prospers ill, being
"
still worse at Yar
mouth. He has seen of Radicals many ; of clear-headed men
not one. The best is Sir Thomas Beever, whom he wishes to
be induced to come to London and see his father and Mr.
Grote. At Yarmouth he has dined with Radical Palmer, who
had opened the borough to the Whigs ; not much better than
a mere Radical.
"
I have been much entertained by a sermon
of Mr. Madge, admirable as against Calvinists and Catholics,