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apprehend；〃 he said； 〃that many of them are persons who； having read
little or nothing； are delighted to be rescued from the sense of their own
inferiority by some teacher who assures them that the studies which they
have neglected are of no value； puts five or six phrases into their mouths；
lends them an odd number of the Westminster Review； and in a month
transforms them into philosophers；〃 and he spoke of them as 〃smatterers；
whose attainments just suffice to elevate them from the insignificance of
dunces to the dignity of bores； and to spread dismay among their pious
aunts and grand mothers。〃 The sect； of course； like other sects；
comprehended some pretenders； and these the most arrogant and intolerant
among its members。 He； however； went so far as to apply the following
language to the majority：〃As to the greater part of the sect； it is； we
apprehend； of little consequence what they study or under whom。 It
would be more amusing； to be sure； and more reputable； if they would take
up the old republican cant and declaim about Brutus and Timoleon； the
duty of killing tyrants and the blessedness of dying for liberty。 But； on
the whole； they might have chosen worse。 They may as well be
Utilitarians as jockeys or dandies。 And； though quibbling about self…
interest and motives； and objects of desire； and the greatest happiness of
the greatest number； is but a poor employment for a grown man； it
certainly hurts the health less than hard drinking and the fortune less than
high play； it is not much more laughable than phrenology； and is
immeasurably more humane than cock…fighting。〃
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
Macaulay inserted in the Edinburgh Review of March； 1829； an article
upon Mr Mill's Essay。 He attacked the method with much vehemence；
and； to the end of his life； he never saw any ground for believing that in
this he had gone too far。 But before long he felt that he had not spoken of
the author of the Essay with the respect due to so eminent a man。 In
1833； he described Mr mill； during the debate on the India Bill of that year；
as a 〃gentleman extremely well acquainted with the affairs of our Eastern
Empire； a most valuable servant of the Company； and the author of a
history of India； which； though certainly not free from faults； is； I think； on
the whole； the greatest historical work which has appeared in our language
since that of Gibbon。〃
Almost immediately upon the appearance of the article in the
Edinburgh Review； an answer was published in the Westminster Review。
It was untruly attributed； in the newspapers of the day； to Mr Bentham
himself。 Macaulay's answer to this appeared in the Edinburgh Review；
June； 1829。 He wrote the answer under the belief that he was answering
Mr Bentham； and was undeceived in time only to add the postscript。 The
author of the article in the Westminster Review had not perceived that the
question raised was not as to the truth or falsehood of the result at which
Mr Mill had arrived； but as to the soundness or unsoundness of the method
which he pursued； a misunderstanding at which Macaulay； while he
supposed the article to be the work of Mr Bentham； expressed much
surprise。 The controversy soon became principally a dispute as to the
theory which was commonly known by the name of The Greatest
Happiness Principle。 Another article in the Westminster Review
followed； and a surrejoinder by Macaulay in the Edinburgh Review of
October； 1829。 Macaulay was irritated at what he conceived to be either
extreme dullness or gross unfairness on the part of his unknown antagonist；
and struck as hard as he could； and he struck very hard indeed。
The ethical question thus raised was afterwards discussed by Sir James
Mackintosh； in the Dissertation contributed by him to the seventh edition
of the Encyclopaedia Britannica； page 284…313 （Whewell's Edition）。 Sir
James Mackintosh notices the part taken in the controversy by Macaulay；
in the following words： 〃A writer of consummate ability； who has failed
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
in little but the respect due to the abilities and character of his opponents；
has given too much countenance to the abuse and confusion of language
exemplified in the well…known verse of Pope；
'Modes of self…love the Passions we may call。'
'We know；' says he； 'no universal proposition respecting human nature
which is true but onethat men always act from self… interest。'〃 〃It is
manifest from the sequel； that the writer is not the dupe of the confusion；
but many of his readers may be so。 If； indeed； the word 〃self…interest〃
could with propriety be used for the gratification of every prevalent desire；
he has clearly shown that this change in the signification of terms would
be of no advantage to the doctrine which he controverts。 It would make
as many sorts of self…interest as there are appetites； and it is irreconcilably
at variance with the system of association proposed by Mr Mill。〃 〃The
admirable writer whose language has occasioned this illustration； who at
an early age has mastered every species of composition； will doubtless
hold fast to simplicity； which survives all the fashions of deviation from it；
and which a man of genius so fertile has few temptations to for sake。〃
When Macaulay selected for publication certain articles of the
Edinburgh Review； he resolved not to publish any of the three essays in
question； for which he assigned the following reason：
〃The author has been strongly urged to insert three papers on the
Utilitarian Philosophy； which； when they first appeared； attracted some
notice； but which are not in the American editions。 He has however
determined to omit these papers； not because he is disposed to retract a
single doctrine which they contain； but