Year: 1874




FIRST APPEARANCE IN MANCHESTER PAPER-PREss


COMMENTS


IrRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE


LONDON. Oct. @.-It is difficult to make out the
circumstances which led to the premature publica-
ton of extracts from Mr.. Mills Essays on Religion
IN The Manchester Guardian. The matter has assumed
certain Importance, for the immediate influence of
it upon public opinion has been considerable. and
has been distinctly, though not, it may be hoped
permanently, unfavorable to the essays and to Mr.
Mill. How it happened is a question no one seems
able OF willing to answer positively. The publishers
disclam all responsibility, and they may presume
be wholly exoneIated from all liability for so unto
ward an accident. 1t was not for the interest of
Messrs. Longmans to show favor to o provincial
journal at the expense of the London press In the
present case they most unlikely to have done it.
because Miss Taylor has retained entire control
over the publication of her late step-fatber's
essays. The book is not printed nor bound
by Messrs. Longma,s, but is delivered to
them in its complete state Miss Taylor
preferring this to the usual arrangement though it
requires her to superintend the manufacture of the
book. The extra profit is supposed to pay for the
extra trouble. 1t is said that Miss Taylor regulated
the distribution of copies to the press fixing the
time when they should be sent out, and the number
of them If this be true, it would follow that the
sheets which fell into the hands of The Manchester
Guardian came, directly, or indirectly from her.
was told yesterday that she had sold outright and
for large sum- to The Guardian and some other
country papers, the privilege of making certain
parts of the book public. This statement, though
probably inaccurate, receives some confirmation
from a paragraph which / extract from The dtte-
n9um of to-day:


The practice been for time getting more and
common OF bringing out at provincial theaters
plays which. It is intended, shall subsequently be pro-
duced in London Apparently sCme similar idea lea TO
publication the beginning OF the week. in sundry
provincial journals, OF lengthy abstract OF Mr. MlI5
posthumous Essays although the usual copies Of the
book had sent to the London papers We Qpes-
ton the wisdom OF this device, with which, we DeeVe
the publishers mad nothing to do Mr. Mlls fame If too
well established to need it and the "putf preliminary"
often repels the public it is intended to attract.


You will at once he struck with the halfconcealed
bitterness of this comment There is no doubt thai


good deal of irritation has been felt. The AthenGum
is very friendly to Mr. Mill and has been to Hiss
Taylor but for the moment vexation is the upper
most feeling. The same vexation has cOorcd the
criticism of some of the daily papers, and found ex
preston in various ways. But as to the question OF
Miss Tayors responsibility consent for the publ
cation the statement above giyenls contradcted by
The Daily Ne,cS of this morning. That paper is In
position to be particularly well informed about 1t,
| and this is what it says:


The three Essays on religion by the late Mr.. Mill,
which long eagerly looked for have met with
somewhat peculiar fate. Their formal publication mas
vet to take place They are announced to appear on
Monday next Yet the present week has been occupied
by large number OF contemporaries in London and
in the country in tearing them to pieces while yet they
have scarcely into existence. The Essays were AT


first criticised basis of certain extracts made pup
lie In perfect good faith doubt not by The Manchester
| bntvy hich We Informed,
only have light thus prematurely by breach
of confidence the part Of the commitment and IN
disregard of the distinct wishes of MI. Mills repre-
| sentatives


If this be correct the other story cannot be. But
The Dalg Nec is certainly wrong IN saying that the
| formal publication of the Essays has yet TO take
place. 1t is true they were not announced TO appear
till Monday next. the 26th and it was reported that
| as usual the actual appearance of the book would
be later STILL But copies were in fact sent out yes
terdav. one of which had, and to-day the volume
NAV be had of any bookseller in London. But what
The DAILY Ne,c8 goes to say of the effect OF lts
coming out piecemeal is perfectly true:


The authors views were promptly discussed on the
basis of these extracts Tue eager mpatence 10 run
and meet than halfway the supposed irritation
and anger OF offended orthodoxy coud not wait for the
connecting links between these scattered portions Of the
Essavs The most decisive judgments passed upon
Them while they known only by bits taken here
and there for the purpose OF elect Sucn cltcsin as
has appeared since the volume as whole became par
tally accessible has been produced with haste which
snguarly contrasts with the deberation and leisure OF
the author in the preparation OF the Essays.


The haste has been so great to render quite
yalueess the greater part of what has been written
durine the week on the book have seen but three
articles which deserve attention. one in The Specd-
toy one in The Pail Mall Gazette and the one from
which have been quoting above. And The Specta-
tor saws honestly it has but ust received the book,
and does not pretend to have studied or COM
nletelv read as yet the Essays" 1t has formed its
opinion manly on the extracts, and give 1t, sub
iect TO the possibility of its being chaugedl next
| week:


Thus Mr. Mill was an empriclst who attached more
importance the secondary than TO the primary forms
OF pleasurable satisfaction Unitarian who was more
of believer the sacredness of disnterested emotion
than trapscendentasts themselves; economist who
carried sentiment with high hand into the heart
of questions affecting the accumulation and dstribu
tion of wealth. q necessarian who was the most pas
sionate advocate of liberty democrat who eagerly
defended the rights of culture and the full representa-
ton of independent thought; nay. ne was skeptc
who held the character of Christ all but divine. and who
wished men to cling the belief IN even slender hope
of divine guidance and personal Immortality for the
sake of the moral such hope must give
and In practical matters he was the enthusiastic advo
cate of change which would tend to deprive women OF
the highest influence they have, while gaining Tor them


mower for which they to most OF US little suited
OF course the mind which threw 80 mach ardor into
sueh paradoxca positions must appear TO future ages
az one OF the most incacuable of the intellectual in
of his dayone who ostered enthusiasts rooted
in doubt and revolutionary changes founded ON vision
ary hopes-one who acted like ferment on almost
all schools OF intellectual tendency. developing
rapdly all the floating germs in their authors minds,


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