MR. BENTHAM AND THE WESTMINSTER REVIEW

TO THE EDITOR OF THE WESTMINSTER REVIEW.

23d October me SIR—The Westminster Review, you know, was established with Mr. BENTHAM'S money; for several years it was written by his most che- rished disciples : though deserted by those writers, it still affects to main- tain and teach his doctrines ; and upon the titlepage of every Num- ber since his death, you have shown us a portrait of his dear, kind, old face, surmounted by a Latin translation, such as it is, of his own motto, "The greatest happiness." You claim, then, to be the apostle par excel- lence of the Utilitarian faith; and the public, knowing about the money, recollecting the early volumes, and seeing the present frontispiece, take you at your word. Far be it from me to say, that you are what you profess to be. On the contrary, I acknowledge that since the Review came into your hands, it has been wanting in all the qualities, save one, that formerly made it BENTHam's own book,—such qualities as labori- ous research, profound sagacity, accurate statement, lucid order, close and powerful reasoning, an earnest love of truth, and never-failing be- nevolence of purpose. The single point in which it differs not from what it was, is an ungainly and repulsive style. You are any thing, heaven knows, but a true Benthsunite : nevertheless, you are most anxious to pass for one ; and your readers, misled by the quackery of your language, and of the frontispiece, give you credit for having caught the mantle of the departed prophet.

Thus prefacedj a statement of the motive with while I write to you, will be plain.

The last Number of the Westminster contains an article on " The New Colony of South Australia," which concludes with the following words. " Finally, a perticular object of ambition in this article is that the author of the Political Register or his correspondents will Fall the New South Australian Colony the scheme of the mathematical politicians of the BENTHAM and Westminster Review school." As this sentence expresses the direct opposite of what the writer in- tended to; say, we must translate it into common English. Instead of " that the author of the Political Register or his correspondents will call," let us read, "that neither the author of the Political Register nor his correspondents should call." Thus interpreted, the Reviewer expresses his pride in having shown that the plan of the NewColony is condemned by.the BENTHAM school; and his anxiety to prevent ignorant people from saying, either that BENTHAM approved of it, or that it is approved by his admirers: The words above quoted, observe, occur at the end of a long article, of which the whole aim and tenor is, to ridicule and abuse the South Australian project. In a word, you assure your readers, with great la- bour and emphasis, that the plan of a certain public undertaking is utterly repugnant to the doctrines of BENTHAM and his schooL

Well, say you, and what of that ? Only this, my good Sir, that I would not be in your shoes for a trifle. If ever there was an awkward scrape, you are in one. Prepare yourself for a piece of news that will

Fatal ! how so ? you still inquire. Thus ; the novel plan of coloniz-

ing to be pursued in South Australia, was warmly approved by Mr. THE GLASGOW DINNER TO LORD DURHAM. BENTHAM. The project of founding a colony at that place, and upon at first urged many objections to it ; but, after examining it with great

care, he declared his unqualified approbation of it, wrote in favour of

so you write the " Finally," &c. Parliament is looked forward to with impatience by the country. As stupidity is no crime, the case thus stated, leaves you without re-

The fate of the Ministry will depend upon the nature of the mea- proach. But what a misfortune ! Your journal, which has been sink-

ing in character ever since it was deserted by the real friends of him sures they bring forward. If they take Lord DURHAM'S advice, wbo established it, will not pay for paper and printing, when those who and rely upon the Liberal majority and constituencies of the read it shall learn that its Utilitarian professions are downright hum- House of Commons for support in following it out,—if they re- bug. A crabbed style, strange expressions, the face of BENTHAM, the pudiate the plan of trusting the execution of Liberal measures to constant use of his name, even the maxima felicitas will be of no avail men whose delight is to thwart them, and employ agents who are against this unfortunate article on South Australia. By learning hearty in their cause,—if, above all, they exclude from their own that you have done your best to defeat an object which BENTHAM body the treacherous members who are perpetually making was anxious to promote, people will be led to discover many other signals to the hostile camp,—then they need not fear the points of difference, or rather contradiction, between your Review impatience of the Reformers. Then every allowance will be and the BENTHAM school. Then, down goes your sale ; and up starts, made for the difficulties in their way. 'the Reformers of all perhaps, another Review which shall truly represent the learning, saga-

classes are as well aware as the Trades of Glasgow, that city, and philanthropy of the Utilitarian sage. By the Utilities ! (to

speak in your way) I don't envy you at all. there are still " giants, mighty Anakim " of corruption, in the At the same time, the affair is not quite desperate. I think I see a way of improvement; and that the purification of the English way by which you may be saved harmless; and as the plan would and Irish Churches, of the close Corporations, and other romp- nicely suit my object, I will tell you what it is. tacles of abuse, cannot be accomplished without severe and re- As far as you are concerned, the object is, to remove an impression peated struggles. All that they require is that their leaders shall that the article on South Australia speaks for the BENTHAM school, struggle, and not mock them with the insulting lie that too much and would have been approved of by their master. Do away with this has been done already. notion, and your end is gained: so also is mine, for I have no other Lord DURHAM'S speeches on the hustings and at the dinner object in writing to you. The means of doing this are at your dis- were highly characteristic of him who spoke them. CHARLES pose'. Prove, in your next Number, that the article on South Austra- Fox said that "speeches were made to be spoken, and nut to be ha is wholly repugnant to Benthamism in spirit and argument, in the read." Lord DURHAM'S will richly repay the trouble of reading mode and substance of its statements, from beginning to end, in every them; for they are pithy and spirited in a remarkable degree. thing save awkwardness of style ; do this, and no one will imagine any longer that the Westminster Review, in its attack on the South

Australian Colony, speaks ca behalf of the Benthamites. If no one

any longer imagine that, then no will be able to say, that, with respect their principal charm and value, is the air of truth and sincerity to South Australia, your journal represents BENTHAM and his school. which marks every sentence. You feel that the (water is to be None being able to say this, it will be impossible for any one to charge trusted; that he is not talking for the occasion, but telling you you with having misrepresented BENTHAM and his school, at least with what he really thinks, and what he has actually done. Your own respect to South Australia. What more would you have? Out of this opinions may be different, or opposite, but you cannot for an in- serape, at all events, you will get completely, by the method proposed. stant doubt the honesty of his. A slave in the Scotsman, the And remark, that in doing so, you will thoroughly accomplish my ob- other day, sneeringly contrasted the speeches of Lord DURHAM jeet—which is to rescue the memory of BENTuam from all connexion with those of Lord BROUGHAM; but all that ever fell from the with that unhappy article on South Australia. Let us, then, work. pen or lips of the verbose Chancellor would weigh light in the togetheras far as may be. My share of the labour shall be contributed

in this and another letter.

Candour, as the copy-books say, disarms animo 4ity. Of course, you will begin by confessing that the small portion of the article on South What we ventured to suggest last week—that the personalities Australia, whieh claims for the whole of it the character of representing and disclosures, which many looked for, would form an insig- the BENTHAM school, was added by yourself iu ignorance of BearrnAm's nificant part of the interest of this great festival—has been con- ?pinions on the subject, and merely for the purpose of using his name firmed by the event. Lord DURHAM, beyond a few brief and In your usual way, a tort et cl tracers. Indeed, you are bound to do this withering words, took little notice of Lord BROUGHAM. He felt in fairness to the writer of the bulk of the article, the strength and superiority of his moral position, and would not

Having cleared the ground by this confession, you will proceed to descend to bandy jests and sneers with the professional exhibitor of

show how great is the contradiction between BENTHAM and that writer. the Woolsack. Neither did he allow himself to be seduced by the Here it is that I propose to help you, by convicting the Reviewer of other's' example into the indecorum of violating the secret discussions ignorance, stupidity, fraud, envy, and spite. This done, it will be plain of the Cabinet. He had applied for the advice of Earl GREY,—as to all, that BENTHAM has not been misrepresented, or even so much as it was natural that he should, considering their close connexions ; represented, by the article on South Australia. Let us confine our- and the dignified ex-Premier counselled him, with the authority of selves to this, leaving the Colonists to defend their own plan. The

proofs in support of my-charge shall all be taken from the article itself, a command, that no public disclosure of " what occurred in the 'promise to furnish you with them next week ; and beg that, meanwhile, preparation and discussion of the Reform Bill by the King's con-

you will believe me to remain, fidential servants" could be made "consistently with the obliges-