The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-06

REVTEW or VIEW ooKS

n
Neal. Received from ID. Ashmead- N.u
There is no pleasanter reading than the
autobiography of an active, busy man who has
seen the world with his eyes open, and who
knows how to put his impressions on paper.
Mr.. Neal, lawyer, now living at good old
age in Portland, Maine is one of the Oldest
if not the oldest, literary man in the United
States. He has been frequent contributor
to the magazines on both sides of the Atlantic
and has written several works which enjoyed
considerable popularity in their day. More
important than this, however, he has been
brought in contact with eminent men on both
sides of the Atlantic, and his varying fortunes
have led him into scenes that make an inte-
resting narrative as related in his autobiogra-
ply. Although Mr.. Neal is now seventy-seven
. years of age, he writes with spirit, and is not
4 too garrulous to be agreeable. He gives many
4 very interesting "reminiscences and the book
is one that may be read with pleasure and
profit. We quote the following reminiscence
8 of Jeremy Bentham:-
People who have heard of Jeremy Bentham
only through Bldcf1Co0d the Edinburgh, Francis
Jeffrey, Professor Wilson, and that wittiest of
reviewers Sydney Smith, can have no idea of
i Prudence, and in the administration of justice,
throughout the world, of which he was the orr
q ginator. Lord Broughams labors and the labors
of Mill the father Mill the son; of Sir Samuel
8 Romilly, of Solicitor Par1es, of Robert Owen,
4 of Rowland lfill, now Sir Rowland of the two
y Austins especially of the elder on Jurispru-
dence in the Encyclopedia Britannica; Of Grote,
he historian; of Roebuck the - what shall
I'll hm?-for he is unlike everybody else so
at "none but himself can be his parallel" of
Tour reformers in this country, on the subject
4 II universal suffrage, the law of evidence, and
the admission of parties, on usury, on women's
rights, ETC., etc., to say nothing of such men as
Aaron Burr, John Pierpont, David Hoffman,
and Chief Justice Appleton, of Maine-have all
been after the plans, promptings, and sugges-
tons of Jeremy Bentham. Since the times of
4 Aristotle and Lord Bacon, 1t may be said with
truth-and here have the opinion of DIR. Parr
to strengthen me-there has been no such re-
forms brought by any mortal man in logic, in
u morals, and legislation, in civil and criminal
Jurisprudence, in the administration of justice,
or In the treatment of criminals, as by this eX
traordinary man and his disciples and followers.
The legislation of the world-it is not saying too
much, of the whole world-has been modified,
or completely reyolutionized, by the tremen-
dous though quiet energy of that old mans
mind.
Look at the law of evidence, for example. If
any part of that law which is called 'the perfec-
ton of reason" deserved to be so regarded by the
profession, it was the law of evidence. Upon
this point we were all of one mind. Whatever
institutes, or Shepard's Touchstone, or Fearne's
C0ntingent Remainders and Executory Devises
the adjudications of Lord Mansfield, with the
Commentaries of Blackstone of Gould, of
Chitty, of Peake, of Greenleaf Starkey, Story,
Powell and others, on the law of evidence, left
nothing to be desired. But how is it now?
Since Bentham appeared, and his labors have
come to be understood, what is tkere left OF the
whole system worth remembering? The wisest
maxims of our fathers have been set aside with
|Out ceremony, and common sense everywhere is
taking the place of precedents and technieali-
ties.
and to persevere SO long, against all combina-
ions and misrepresentation for lifetime?
II am naturally of aweakmind," said he to me
one day, as we sat over our tea, talking this
matter over "All that can be said of me is that
have made the most of it,"
II have sometimes thought" said he, at an
J. other time, with a look of great solemnity,
whether or no was not mad. If am not
such things will come across our thoughts now
and then-all the rest of the world must be So y
No, no" said l; "their not believing as you do,
b cases which are abundantly clear to you,
Foyes, not that they are mad, but that they
have not considered the matter as you have y
True, true he said; ''yes, yes, to be sure; be-
Eldes, for forty years there was nobody to attack
ae except with ridicule and Misrepresentation.
"What did your father think of these works?'
inquired, as he took down the Defense oi
Jsury" from a shelf, and mentioned that the
copy had belonged to his father. 1t was crammeC
With letters, and review from the Old MonthtS
vas wafered into it, "Tll tell you, said he
leath-bed, Jerry, you have made a philoso'
Dher of me- / suppose / smiled; for the idea
that old white-haired man before me, nearly
tourscore and upwards like Lear - and like
ear, too, nightly abused"-ever having beer
allied JerTy-,JeYy,y, ,y,-after he had writer
Morals and Legislation The Defense O.
sury, and other works of similar character
ckled me prodgiously, though DR.. Parr always
allied him not only Jerry, but Master Jerry, to
lis dying day. He made another will" added
dr Bentham, 'and left out the name of Christ
did more than smile now; l laughed outright
he idea of taking that for measure of i'm
broyement in philosophy was yet more divert
pg than the other. But he was perfectly Sc
tous. And by the way, this reminds me tina
Elr. Solicitor Parkes, author of the "History o
fhancery, who married an American wife, tn
laughter of DIR. Priestley, told me, one day
hen we were canvassing the past of Bentham
m, and casting his horoscope for the future
hat when he was boy DR.. Parr told him t
ead the works of Bentham, as the greatest ma
hat ever lived; and that, not long before,
ergyman, a very clever fellow, and fin
|IR holar who was not suspected by Mr.. Parkes
~ now anything of Benthanism, in reply to som
uestiOn as to what book, for the last hundre
ears, had done most for the mind, and shove
lost power and originality, answered, withou
esitation, "BenthaIns Morals and Legislation,
lding that Dr. Parr had told him to read
4 any years before; that he read it accordingly
nd never had but one opinion of it since.
Said Brougham, June 2, 1873 in the House {
6 ommons, 81 agree with my honorable friend
- pc member for Arundel, Sir Samuel Romilly
no looked up TO Mr.. Benttdm lDih The aInlos
~ Rdl reverence of a pupil for his tutor"
The following memorandum in this conneC
on, may be worth preserving
5; s.MARcH n, 1S27.-To-day Mr.. Gallatin VIII
I'D anatiye, as everybody knows, of Geneva
umO nnl lad