Reviews. 463 
been so successfully undermined, or so completely “blown 
up” as by the treatise now before us, which will, doubtless, 
be hailed by all Liberal Conservatives, as a well-timed and 
powerful defence against the strenuous efforts of demo- 
cracy, which are now not only fermenting the minds of 
the working classes, but are disturbing the equanimity 
even of the Senate—unsettling and retarding our moral 
and intellectual progress. 
“Individual Liberty,” to which we have given a careful 
perusal, is a really logical and dispassionate exposition of 
certain passages in Mr. Mill's essay “ On Liberty,” which 
our author pronounces to be “ erroneous in theory, and in- 
jurious in practice.” We have no hesitation in acknow- 
ledging, that in five chapters out of the six, of which his 
book is composed, he has clearly proved the truth of his 
assertion. 
The first, and most important fallacy, which is made the 
subject of dissection, is—‘ That there is a preponderance, 
among mankind, of rational opinions and rational conduct.” 
After a variety of illustrations, all tending to prove the 
extremely irrational state, both of opinion and conduct, 
the author discusses the following question, which at this 
present crisis is highly appropriate—namely, “Are demo- 
cratic, or republican institutions (which are, par excellence, 
styled free governments) calculated to develope rational 
conduct ?” 
Our author's picture of the effects of democratic insti- 
tutions among our Transatlantic brethren, is graphically 
sketched, but so fearfully dark and gloomy, that (although 
we are no admirers of democracy) we cannot help suspect- 
ing that the picture is greatly overdrawn. 
Here follows an extract (which our space will not allow 
us to quote) from the Mew York Tribune (by Horace 
Greely) giving a glimpse of the moral state of that city, 
so horrible and revolting as to excite the most intense 
disgust. 
The following are a few of the other propositions in Mr. 
Mill’s essay, which the author of the present treatise re- 
gards as fallacious, and which he has undertaken to ex- 
pose :— 
1. “If a man, through intemperance or extravagance, 
becomes unable to pay his debts, or, having undertaken 
the moral responsibilities of a family, becomes, from the 
same cause, incapable of supporting, or educating them, 
he is deservedly reprobated, and ought to be punished: 
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