JOHN STUART MILL. 373 



act sum was collected, which, in due course, was invested in a superb 

 silver inkstand, designed by our friend Digby Wyatt, and manufac- 

 tured by Messrs. Elkington. Before it was ready, however, an unex- 

 pected trouble arose. In some way or other, Mill had got wind of our 

 proceeding, and, coming to me in consequence, began almost to up- 

 braid me as its originator. I had never before seen him so angry. He 

 hated all such demonstrations, he said, and was quite resolved not to 

 be made the subject of them. He was sure they were never altogether 

 genuine or spontaneous. There were always several persons who took 

 part in them, merely because they did not like to refuse, and in short, 

 whatever we might do, he would have none of it. In vain I repre- 

 sented how eagerly everybody, without exception, had come forward ; 

 that we had now gone too far to recede ; that if he would not take the 

 inkstand, we should be utterly at a loss what to do with it, and that I 

 myself should be in a specially embarrassing position. Mill was not 

 to be moved. This was a question of principle, and on principle he 

 could not give way. There was nothing left, therefore, but resort to 

 a species of force. I arranged with Messrs. Elkington that our little 

 testimonial should be taken down to Mr. Mill's house at Blackheath, 

 by one of their men, who, after leaving it with the servant, should 

 hurry away without waiting for an answer. This plan succeeded, but 

 I have always suspected, though she never told me so, that its success 

 was mainly due to Miss Helen Taylor's good offices. But for her, the 

 inkstand would almost certainly have been returned, instead of being 

 promoted, as it eventually was, to a place of honor in her own and 

 her father's drawing-room. 



HIS MORAL CHARACTER. 



BY HEEBEET SPEITOEB. 



To dilate upon Mr. Mill's achievements, and to insist upon the 

 wideness of his influence over the thought of his time, and consequent- 

 ly over the actions of his time, seem to me scarcely needful. The 

 facts are sufficiently obvious ; and are recognized by all who know 

 any thing about the progress of opinion during the last half-century. 

 My own estimate of him, intellectually considered, has been emphati- 

 cally, though briefly, given on an occasion of controversy between us, 

 by expressing my regret at " having to contend against the doctrine 

 of one whose agreement I should value more than that of any other 

 thinker." 



While, however, it is almost superfluous to assert of him that intel- 

 lectual height so generally admitted, there is more occasion for draw- 

 ing attention to a moral elevation that is less recognized, partly be- 

 cause his activities in many directions afforded no occasion for exhib- 

 iting it, and partly because some of its most remarkable manifestations 

 in conduct are known only to those whose personal relations with him 

 have called them forth. I feel especially prompted to say something 



