JamesMillwasoneofthecountlessScotswho，havingbeentrainedathomeinstrictfrugalityandsternPuritanicprinciples，havefoughttheirwaytosuccessinEngland。
　　Hewasborn6thApril1773intheparishofLogiePert，Forfarshire。Hisfather，alsonamedJamesMill，wasavillageshoemaker，employingtwoorthreejourneymenwhenattheheightofhisprosperity。Hismother，IsabelFeton，daughterofafarmer，hadbeenaservantinEdinburgh，Herfamilyhadsomeclaimstosuperiorgentility；shewasfastidious，delicateinframe，andaccusedofpridebyherneighbours。SheresolvedtobringupJames，hereldestson，tobeagentleman，whichpracticallymeanttobeaminister。Heprobablyshowedearlypromiseofintellectualsuperiority。
　　Hereceivedtheusualtrainingattheparishschool，andwasthensenttotheMontroseAcademy，wherehewastheschoolfellowandfriendofayoungerlad，JosephHume1777-1855，afterwardshispoliticalally。HeboardedwithaMontroseshopkeeperfor2s6d。Aweek，andremainedattheAcademytillhewasseventeen。Hewasneverputtoworkinhisfather’sshop，anddevotedhimselfentirelytostudy。TheusualageforbeginningtoattendaScottishuniversitywasthirteenorfourteen；anditwouldhavebeenthenormalcourseforaladinMill’spositiontobesentatthatagetoAberdeen。Mill’seducationwasprolongedbyaconnectionwhichwasofgreatservicetohimSirJohnStuartpreviouslyBelches，ofFettercairnHouse，inMill’sneighbourhood，hadmarriedLadyJaneLeslie，andwasbyherfatherofanonlychild，Wilhelmina。LadyJanewasgiventocharity，andhadsetupafundtoeducatepromisingladsfortheministry。Millwasprobablyrecommendedtoherbytheparishminister，aslikelytodocredittoherpatronage。HealsoactedastutortoWilhelmina，whoafterwardsbecametheobjectofScott’searlypassion。MillspentmuchtimeatFettercairnHouse，andappearstohavewonthewarmregardsbothoftheStuartsandoftheirdaughter，whospokeofhimaffectionately’withalmostherlastbreath。’2TheStuartspassedtheirwintersatEdinburgh，whitherMillaccompaniedthem。Heenteredtheuniversityin1790，andseemstohaveappliedhimselfchieflytoGreekandtophilosophy。HebecamesogoodaGreekscholarthatlongafterwards1818hehadsomethoughtsofstandingfortheGreekchairatGlasgow。3HewasalwaysakeenstudentofPlato。HereadtheordinaryScottishauthorities，andattendedthelecturesofDugaldStewart。BesidesreadingRousseau，hestudiedMassillon，probablywithaviewtohisfutureperformancesinthepulpit。MassillonmightbesuggestedtohimbyquotationsinAdamSmith’sMoralSentiments。
　　Therearefewrecordsofacquaintanceshipwithanyofhisdistinguishedcontemporaries，exceptthechemistThomasThomson，whobecamealifelongfriend。HeprobablymadeacquaintancewithBrougham，andmayhaveknownJeffrey；buthewasnotamemberoftheSpeculativeSociety，joinedbymostyoungmenofpromise。
　　In1794hebeganhiscourseofdivinity，andon4thOctober1798waslicensedtopreach。Helivedinhisfather’shouse，wherepartofthefamilyroomwasscreenedofftoformastudyforhim。Hedeliveredsomesermons，apparentlywithlittlesuccess。
　　Hefailedtoobtainacallfromanyparish；andtherearevaguereportsofhisactingastutorinsomefamilies，andofarebuffreceivedatthetableofthemarquisofTweeddale，fatherofoneofhispupils，whichmadehimresolvetoseekforindependencebyadifferentcareer。
　　In1802MillwenttoLondonincompanywithSirJohnStuart，whowasabouttotakehisseatinparliament。
　　StuartprocuredadmissionforhimtothegalleryoftheHouseofCommons，whereheattendedmanydebates，andacquiredaninterestinpolitics。Hisambition，however，dependeduponhispen；andatfirst，itwouldseem，hewasnotmoreparticularthanotherjournalistsastothepoliticsofthepaperstowhichhecontributed，HehadobtainedatestimonialfromThomson，onthestrengthofwhichheintroducedhimselftoJohnGifford，editoroftheAnti-JacobinReview。4Thiswasamonthlymagazine，whichhadadoptedthenameandpoliticsofthedeceasedAnti-Jacobin，editedbyWilliamGifford。Millobtainedemployment，andwrotearticlesimplyingainterestinthephilosophy，andespeciallyinthepoliticaleconomy，ofthetime。Itisnoteworthy，consideringhislaterprinciples，thatheshouldatthistimehavetakenpartinastrongToryorgan。Hewroteapamphletin1804thefirstpublicationunderhisnametoprovetheimpolicyofabountyupontheexportationofgrain；andin1807repliedinCommerceDefendedtoWilliamSpence’sBritainIndependentofCommerce。Meanwhilehehadfoundemploymentofamoreregularkind。
　　HehadformedaconnectionwithabooksellernamedBaldwin，forwhomheundertooktohelpinrewritingabookcalledNatureDelineated。
　　ThisschemewaschangedforaperiodicalcalledtheLiteraryJournal，whichstartedatthebeginningof1803，andlivedthroughfouryearswithMillaseditor。AtthesametimeapparentlyheeditedtheSt。James’sChronicle，alsobelongingtoBaldwin，whichhadnoverydefinitepoliticalcolour。
　　TheJournalprofessedtogiveasystematicsurveyofliterary，scientific，andphilosophicalpublications。ForthescientificpartMillwashelpedbyThomson。Hisowncontributionsshowthat，althoughclearlyarationalist，hewasstillopposedtoopeninfidelity。AtranslationofVillers’HistoryoftheReformationimpliessimilartendencies。Otherliteraryhack-workduringthisandthenextfewyearsisvaguelyindicated。Millwasmakingabout£；500ayearorsomethingmoreduringhiseditorships，andthoughthimselfjustifiedinmarrying。On5thJune1805hebecamethehusbandofHarriettBurrow，daughterofawidowwhokeptaprivatelunaticasylumoriginallystartedbyherhusband。TheMillssettledinahouseinPentonvillebelongingtoMrs。Burrow，forwhichtheypaid£；50ayear。
　　Themoneyquestionsoonbecamepressing，theeditorshipsvanished，andtomakeanincomebyperiodicalwritingwasnoeasytask。Hissonobservesthatnothingcouldbemoreopposedtohisfather’slaterprinciplesthanmarryingandproducingalargefamilyunderthesecircumstances。Ninechildrenwereultimatelyborn，allofwhomsurvivedtheirfather。Thefamilyinhisoldhomewereanadditionalburthen。
　　HismotherdiedbeforehisdeparturefromScotland。Hisfatherwasparalysed，andhavingincautiouslygivensecurityforafriend，becamebankrupt。HisonlybrotherWilliam，diedsoonafterwards，andhisonlysister，Mary，marriedoneofherfather’sjourneymennamedGreig，andtriedtocarryonthebusiness。Thefatherdiedabout1808，andtheGreigshadahardstruggle，thoughtwoofthesonsultimatelysetupabusinessinMontrose。
　　JamesMillappearstohavehelpedtosupporthisfather，whosedebtsheundertooktopay，andtohaveafterwardshelpedtheGreigs。Theythought，itseems，thatheoughttohavedonemore，butwerenotunlikelytoexaggeratetheresourcesofamanwhowasmakinghiswayinEngland。Millwasresoluteindoinghisduty，buthardlylikelytodoitgraciously。Atanyrate，intheearlyyears，itmusthavebeenaseverestraintodoanything。
　　InspiteofalldifficultiesMill，bystrictfrugalityandunremittingenergy，managedtokeepoutofdebt。Intheendof1806heundertookthehistoryofBritishIndia。Thiswastobethegreatworkwhichshouldgivehimaname，andenablehimtoriseabovetheherdofcontemporaryjournalists。Hecalculatedthetimenecessaryforitscompletionatthreeyears，buttheyearsweretobemorethantrebledbeforethebookwasactuallyfinished。Atthatperiodtherewerefewerfacilitiesthantherecouldnowbeformakingthenecessaryresearches：andwedonotknowwhatwerethereasonswhichpromptedtheselectionofasubjectofwhichhecouldhavenofirst-handknowledge。
　　Thebooknecessarilyimpededotherlabours；andtothetoilofwritingMilladdedthetoilofsuperintendingtheeducationofhischildren。Hisstruggleforsomeyearswassuchastorequireanextraordinarystrainuponallhisfaculties。Mill，however，possessedgreatphysicalandmentalvigour。Hewasmuscular，well-made，andhandsome；hehadmarkedpowersofconversation，andmadeastrongimpressionuponallwithwhomhecameincontact。Hegraduallyformedconnectionswhicheffectuallydeterminedhisfuturecareer。
　　II。BENTHAM’SLIEUTENANT
　　ThemostimportantinfluenceinMill’slifewasthefriendshipwithBentham。Thisappearstohavebegunin1808。Millspeedilybecameavalueddisciple。HeusedtowalkfromPentonvilletodinewithBenthaminQueen’sSquarePlace。Soontheeldermandesiredtohavehisnewfriendnearerathand。In1810MillmovedtothehouseinBentham’sgarden，whichhadoncebelongedtoMilton；whenthisprovedunsuitable，hewasobligedtomovetoamoredistantabodeatStokeNewington；
　　butfinally，in1814，hesettledinanotherhousebelongingtoBentham，1Queen’sSquare，closeundertheoldgentleman’swing。Hereforsomeyearstheylivedintheclosestintimacy。TheMillsalsostayedwithBenthaminhiscountry-housesatBarrowGreen，andafterwardsatFordAbbey。Theassociationwasnotwithoutitstroubles。Benthamwasfanciful，andMillsternandrigid。Noone，however，couldbeamoredevoteddisciple。ThemostcuriousillustrationoftheirrelationsisaletterwrittentoBenthambyMill，19thSeptember1814，whiletheywerebothatFordAbbey。Millinthisdeclareshimselftobea’mostfaithfulandferventdisciple’ofthetruthswhichBenthamhadthe’immortalhonour’ofpropounding。Hehadfanciedhimselftobehismaster’sfavouritedisciple。NooneissocompletelyofBentham’swayofthinking，orsoqualifiedbypositionforcarryingonthepropaganda。Now，however，BenthamshowedthathehadtakenumbrageatsomepartofMill’sbehaviour。Anopenquarrelwouldbringdiscredituponbothsides，andupontheircommonbeliefs。Thegreatdangerstofriendshiparepecuniaryobligationandtoocloseintimacy。Millhasmadeitagreatpurposeofhislifetoavoidpecuniaryobligation，thoughhetookprideinreceivingobligationsfromBentham。HehasconfinedhimselftoacceptingBentham’shouseatalowrent，andallowinghisfamilytoliveforpartoftheyearatBentham’sexpense。Henowproposessotoarrangehisfuturelifethattheyshallavoidanexcessivelycloseintimacy，fromwhich，hethinks，hadarisenthe’umbrage。’Theletter，whichismanlyandstraightforward，ledtoareconciliation，andforsomeyearstheintercoursewasascloseasever。5
　　Mill’sunreservedadoptionofBentham’sprinciples，andhisresolutiontodevotehislifetotheirpropagation，impliesadevelopmentofopinion。Hehadentirelydroppedhistheology。IntheearlyyearsofhisLondonlife，Millhadbeenonlyarationalist。Hehadbythistimebecomewhatwouldnowbecalledanagnostic。
　　Hethought’dogmaticatheism’absurd，saysJ。S。Mill；6butheheldthatwecanknownothingwhateverastotheoriginoftheworld。’
　　Theoccasionofthechange，accordingtohisfamily，washisintercoursewithGeneralMiranda，whowassittingatBentham’sfeetaboutthistime。
　　J。S。Millstatesthattheturning-pointinhisfather’smindwasthestudyofButler’sAnalogy。Thatbook，hethought，asothershavethought，wasconclusiveagainsttheoptimisticdeismwhichitassails；buthethoughtalsothattheargumentreallydestroyedButler’sownstanding-ground。TheevilsoftheworldareincompatiblewiththetheoryofAlmightybenevolence。
　　Thepurelylogicalobjectionwascombinedwithanintensemoralsentiment。
　　Theologicaldoctrines，hethought，werenotonlyfalse，butbrutal。Hissonhadheardhimsay’ahundredtimes’thatmenhaveattributedtotheirgodseverytraitofwickednesstilltheconceptionculminatedintheChristiandoctrineofhell。Millstillattendedchurchservicesforsometimeafterhismarriage，andthechildrenwerechristened。Buttheeldestsondidnotremembertheperiodofevenpartialconformity，andconsideredhimselftohavebeenbroughtupfromthefirstwithoutanyreligiousbelief。JamesMillhadalreadytakenuptheuncompromisingpositioncongenialtohischaracter，althoughthereticencewhichthewholepartyobservedpreventedanyopenexpressionofhissentiments。
　　Mill’spropagandaofBenthamismwasforsometimeobscure。HehelpedtoputtogethersomeofBentham’swritings，especiallythebookuponevidence。Hewasconsultedinregardtoallproposedpublications，suchasthepamphletuponjury-packing，whichMilldesiredtopublishinspiteofRomilly’swarning。Millendeavouredalsotodisseminatethetruefaiththroughvariousperiodicals。HeobtainedadmissiontotheEdinburghReview，probablythroughitschiefcontributor，Brougham。NeitherBroughamnorJeffreywaslikelytocommitthegreatWhigreviewtothesupportofacreedstillmilitantandregardedwithdistrustbytherespectable。Millcontributedvariousarticlesfrom1808to1813，butchieflyupontopicsoutsideofthepoliticalsphere。TheEdinburghReview，asIhavesaid，hadtakenacondescendingnoticeofBenthamin1804。MilltriedtointroduceabettertoneintoanarticleuponBexon’sCodedelaLé；gislationpé；nale，whichhewaspermittedtopublishinthenumberforOctober1809。KnowingJeffrey’s’dislikeofpraise，’hetriedtobeonhisguard，andtoinsinuatehismaster’sdoctrinewithoutopenlyexpressinghisenthusiasm。Jeffrey，however，sadlymangledthereview，struckouteverymentionbutoneofBentham，andtheresubstitutedwordsofhisownforMill’s。Evenasitwas，BroughampronouncedthepraiseofBenthamtobeexcessive。7Millcontinuedtowriteforatime，partly，nodoubt，withaviewtoJeffrey’scheques。AlmosthislastarticleinJanuary1813wasdevotedtotheLancasteriancontroversy，inwhichMill，asweshalldirectlysee，wasinalliancewiththeWhigs。ButtheEdinburghReviewersweretoodistinctlyoftheWhigpersuasiontobecongenialcompanyforadeterminedRadical。Theywouldgivehimnomorethanasecondaryposition，andwouldthentakegoodcaretoavoidtheinsertionofanysuspiciousdoctrine。Millwrotenomoreafterthesummerof1813。
　　Meanwhilehewasfindingmoresympatheticallies。FirstamongthemwasWilliamAllen1770-1843，chemist，ofPloughCourt。AllenwasaQuaker，amanofconsiderablescientifictastes；successfulinbusiness，andardentlydevotedthroughouthislifetomanyphilanthropicschemes。Hetook，inparticular，anactivepartintheagitationagainstslavery。Hewas，aswehaveseen，oneofthepartnerswhoboughtOwen’sestablishmentatNewLanark；andhisreligiousscrupleswereafterwardsthecauseofOwen’sretirement，these，however，wereonlyapartofhismultifariousschemes。Hewasperhapssomethingofabusybody；
　　hisheadmayhavebeenalittleturnedbytheattentionswhichhereceivedonallhands；hemanagedtheaffairsofthedukeofKent；wasvisitedbytheEmperorAlexanderin1814；andinterviewedroyalpersonagesontheContinent，inordertoobtaintheirsupportinattackingtheslave-trade，andintroducinggoodschoolsandprisons，But，thoughhemayhavesharedsomeoftheweaknessesofpopularphilanthropists，heismentionedwithrespectevenbyobserverssuchasOwenandPlace，whohadmanyprejudicesagainsthisprinciples。Heundoubtedlydeservesaplaceamongtheactiveandusefulsocialreformersofhistime。