Mr. J. S. Mill is really doing mischief, both to
himself and to his party, by his affectation to give credentials to Liberal candi- dates in search of a seat. Mr. Chadwick,—of drainage fame, — has taken a letter from Mr. J. S. Mill recommendatory of him and his claims to the electors of Kilmarnock, where he hopes to attract some of Mr. Bonverie's former supporters over to his camp. Mr. Bouverie is naturally not pleased, and writes to Mr. Mill for an explanation. The explanation comes from Avignon, to the effect that, if Mr. Mill had the power, he would give up his own seat at Westminster to Mr. Chadwick, so highly does he think of hius,—but, not having the power, he has sent him elsewhere, i.e., we suppose, where the member is less popular and more likely to be shaken in his seat. Now, we do not particularly appreciate Mr. Bouverie, who has not been a very good Liberal lately, and has been fussy and conceited, and if the Kilmarnock electors had wished to ask another Liberal to contest the seat there would be nothing to object. But this volunteer propagandism of Mr. J. S. Mill's seems to us really invidious and mischievous. He writes from Avignon, the abode of a secessionist Pope, almost with the authority,—as well as the humility,—of a new philosophi- cal Pope, and does no good by his letters. We can quite believe that he is not exaggerating when he says that he would put Mr. Chadwick in his place if he could. He has chivalry enough for that. But as he can't, why send out his Bulls to the people of Kilmarnock ? Why can't he let it alone ?
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