首页 >出版文学> Jeremy Bentham>第31章

第31章

  InhislateryearstheUnitedStatesbecamehisideal,andhenevertiredofcomparingitscheapandhonestenactmentwiththecorruptionandextravaganceathome。
  V。CODIFICATION。
  TheunsettledconditionswhichfollowedthepeaceinvariousEuropeancountriesfoundBenthamotheremployment。In1809DumontdidsomecodifyingfortheEmperorofRussia,andin1817wasengagedtodothesameserviceforGeneva。Hewasemployedforsomeyears,andissaidtohaveintroducedaBenthamitePenalCodeandPanopticon,andanapplicationoftheTactics。125*
  In1820and1821BenthamwasconsultedbytheConstitutionalpartyinSpainandPortugal,andwroteelaboratetractsfortheirenlightenment。HemadeanimpressionuponatleastoneSpaniard。Borrow,whentravellinginSpainsometenyearsafterBentham’sdeath,waswelcomedbyanAlcaldeonCapeFinisterre,whohaduponhisshelvesalltheworksofthe’grandBaintham,’
  andcomparedhimtoSolon,Plato,andevenLopedeVega。126*ThelastcomparisonappearedtoBorrowtobeoverstrained。Benthamevenendeavouredin1822-23
  toadministersomesoundadvicetothegovernmentofTripoli,buthissuggestionsfor’remediesagainstmisrule’seemnevertohavebeencommunicated。127*
  In1823and1824hewasamemberoftheGreekCommittee;hecorrespondedwithMavrocordatoandotherleaders;andhebeggedParrtoturnsomeofhisadmonitionsinto’Parrian’Greekforthebenefitofthemoderns。128*Blaquiè;reandStanhope,twoardentmembersofthecommittee,weredisciples;andStanhopecarriedwithhimtoGreeceBentham’sTableoftheSpringsofAction,withwhichhetriedtoindoctrinateByron。Thepoet,however,thoughtwithsomeplausibilitythathewasabetterjudgeofhumanpassionsthanthephilosopher。
  Parry,theengineer,whojoinedByronatthesametime,givesaqueeraccountoftheoldphilosophertrottingaboutLondonintheserviceoftheGreeks。129*
  Thecoarseandthoughtlessmightlaugh,andperhapssomeneithercoarsenorthoughtlessmightsmile。ButBowringtellsusthattheseweredaysofboundlesshappinessforBentham。130*Tributesofadmirationwerepouringinfromallsides,andthetrueGospelwasspreadingacrosstheAtlanticandalongtheshoresoftheMediterranean。
  AthometheUtilitarianpartywasconsolidatingitself;andthestrugglewhichresultedintheReformBillwasslowlybeginning。TheveteranCartwright,Bentham’sseniorbyeightyears,triedin1821topersuadehimtocomeoutasoneofacommitteeof’GuardiansofConstitutionalReform,’electedatapublicmeeting。131*Benthamwiselyrefusedtobedrawnfromhisprivacy。
  Heleftittohisfriendstoagitate,whilehereturnedtolabourinhisstudy。ThedemandforlegislationwhichhadsprungupinsomanypartsoftheworldencouragedBenthamtoundertakethelastofhisgreatlabours。
  ThePortugueseCortesvotedinDecember1821thatheshouldbeinvitedtopreparean’all-comprehensivecode’;andin1822heputoutacurious’Codificationproposal,’offeringtodotheworkforanynationinneedofalegislator,andappendingtestimonialstohiscompetenceforthework。Hesettoworkupona’ConstitutionalCode,’whichoccupiedhimatintervalduringtheremainderofhislife,andembodiedthefinaloutcomeofhisspeculations。Hedivergedfromthismainpurposetowritevariouspamphletsupontopicsofimmediateinterest;andwaskeenlyinterestedinthevariousactivitiesofhisdisciples。
  TheUtilitariansnowthoughtthemselvesentitledtoenterthefieldofpoliticsasadistinctbody。Anorgantodefendtheircausewasdesirable,andBenthamsuppliedthefundsfortheWestminsterReview,ofwhichthefirstnumberappearedinApril1824。
  TheeditorshipfellchieflyintothehandsofBowring1792-1872。BowringhadtravelledmuchupontheContinentforacommercialhouse,andhisknowledgeofSpanishpoliticshadbroughthimintoconnectionwithBentham,towhomBlaquiè;rerecommendedhimin1820。132*Astrongattachmentsprangupbetweenthetwo。Benthamconfidedallhisthoughtsandfeelingstotheyoungman,andBowringlookeduptohisteacherwithaffectionatereverence。
  In1828BenthamsaysthatBowringis’themostintimatefriendhehas。’133*
  Bowringcomplainsofcalumnies,bywhichhewasassailed,thoughtheyfailedtoalienateBentham。Whattheymayhavebeenmatterslittle;butitisclearthatacertainjealousyarosebetweenthislastdiscipleandhisolderrivals。
  JamesMill’ssternandrigidcharacterhadevidentlyproducedsomeirritationatintervals;andtohimitwouldnaturallyappearthatBowringwastheobjectofasenilefavouritism。InanycaseitistoberegrettedthatBenthamthusbecamepartlyalienatedfromhisolderfriends。134*Millwastooproudtocomplain;andneverwaveredinhisallegiancetothemaster’sprinciples。
  Butoneresult,andtousthemostimportant,wasthatthenewattachmentledtothecompositionofoneoftheworstbiographiesinthelanguage,outofmaterialswhichmighthaveservedforamasterpiece。Bowringwasagreatlinguist,andanenergeticmanofbusiness。Hewrotehymns,andoneofthem,’InthecrossofChristIglory,’issaidtohave’universalfame。’ABenthamitecapableofsosingularaneccentricityjudiciouslyagreedtoavoiddiscussionsuponreligioustopicswithhismaster。ToBowringwealsoowetheDeontology,whichprofessestorepresentBentham’sdictation。TheMillsrepudiatedthisversion,certainlyaverypoorone,oftheirteacher’smorality,andheldthatitrepresentedlessBenthamthansuchanimpressionofBenthamascouldbestampeduponamuddle-headeddisciple。135*
  ThelastyearsofhislifebroughtBenthamintocloserconnectionwithmoreremarkablemen。TheRadicalshaddespisedtheWhigsastrimmersandhalf-heartedreformers,andJamesMillexpressedthisfeelingveryfranklyinthefirstnumbersoftheWestminsterReview。Reform,however,wasnowbecomingrespectable,andtheWhigsweregainingthecouragetotakeitupseriously。ForemostamongtheEdinburghReviewerswasthegreatHenryBrougham,whosefamewasatthistimealmostasgreatashisambitioncoulddesire,andwhoconsideredhimselftobethenaturalleaderofallreform。HehadshowneagernesstodistinguishhimselfinlinesfullyapprovedbyBentham。
  Hisadmirersregardedhimasagiant;andhisopponents,iftheysawinhimadashofthecharlatan,couldnotdenyhisamazingenergyandhiscapacityasanorator。Theinsatiablevanitywhichafterwardsruinedhiscareeralreadymadeitdoubtfulwhetherhefoughtforthecauseortheglory。Buthewasatleastaninstrumentworthhaving。Hewasakindofhalf-disciple。Ifin1809hehadcheckedMill’spraiseofBentham,hewassoonafterwardsinfrequentcommunicationwiththemaster。InJuly1812BenthamannouncesthatBroughamisatlasttobeadmittedtoadinner,forwhichhehadbeen’intriguinganytimethissixmonths,’andexpectsthathisproselytewillsoonbethefirstmanintheHouseofCommons,andeclipseevenRomilly。136*Inlateryearstheyhadfrequentcommunications;andwhenin1827Broughamwasknowntobepreparinganutteranceuponlawreform,Bentham’shopesrosehigh。
  Heofferedtohisdisciple’somenicelittlesweetpapofmyownmaking,’
  soundteachingthatis,uponevidence,judicialestablishmentsandcodification。
  Broughamthankshis’deargrandpapa,’andBenthamoffersfurthersuppliestohis’dear,sweetlittlepoppet。’137*ButwhentheoratorhadspokenBenthamdeclares9thFebruary1828thatthemountainhasbeendeliveredofamouse。Broughamwas’notthemantosetup’simpleandrationalprinciples。
  HewastheshamadversarybuttherealaccompliceofPeel,pullingupliesbytheroottoplantothersequallynoxious。138*In1830Benthamhadeventoholdup’MasterPeel’asa’modelgoodboy’totheself-styledreformer。
  Broughamneedsadoseofjalapinsteadofpap,forhecannotevenspellthe’greatesthappinessprinciple’properly。139*BenthamwentsofarastowritewhathefondlytooktobeanepigramuponBrougham:
  ’Sofoolishandsowise,sogreat,sosmall,Everythingnow,to-morrownoughtatall。’140*
  InSeptember1831BroughamasChancellorannouncedaschemeforcertainchangesintheconstitutionofthecourts。TheproposalcalledforthBentham’slastpamphlet,LordBroughamdisplayed。141*Benthamlamentsthathisdisciplehas’stretchedouttherighthandoffellowshiptojobbersofallsorts。’142*
  InvainhadBroughaminhisspeechcalledBentham’oneofthegreatsagesofthelaw。’Benthamacknowledgeshisamiabilityandhisgenius;butlamentsovertheuntrustworthycharacterofamanwhocouldonlyadoptprinciplessofarastheyweresubservienttohisownvanity。
  AnotherlightoftheEdinburghReview,whoatthistimetookBroughamathisownvaluation,didanincidentalservicetoBentham。UponthepublicationoftheBookofFallaciesin1825,SydneySmithreviewedorrathercondenseditintheEdinburghReview,andgavethepithofthewholeinhisfamousNoodle’sOration。Thenoodleuttersallthecommonplacesbywhichthestupidconservatives,withEldonattheirhead,metthedemandsofreformers。NothingcouldbewittierthanSmith’sbrilliantsummary。WhigsandRadicalsforthetimeagreedinridiculingblindprejudice。ThedaywastocomewhentheWhigsatleastwouldseethatsomeprinciplesmightbeworsethanprejudice。Allthefools,saidLordMelbourne,’wereagainstCatholicEmancipation,andtheworstofitis,thefoolswereintheright。’SydneySmithwasgladtobeBentham’smouthpieceforthemoment:though,whenBenthamismwasappliedtochurchreform,SmithbegantoperceivethatNoodlewasnotsosillyasheseemed。
  OneotherallyofBenthamdeservesnotice。O’Connellhadin1828,inspeakingoflegalabuses,calledhimself’anhumblediscipleoftheimmortalBentham。’143*
  Benthamwrotetoacknowledgethecompliment。HeinvitedO’ConnelltobecomeaninmateofhishermitageatQueen’sSquarePlace,andO’Connellrespondedwarmlytothelettersofhis’reveredmaster。’Bentham’saversiontoCatholicismwasasstrongashisobjectiontoCatholicdisqualifications,andhetooksometroubletosmoothdownthedifficultieswhichthreatenedanalliancebetweenardentbelieversandthorough-goingsceptics。O’Connellhadattackedsomewhowerepoliticallyuponhisside。’Dan,dearchild,’saysBentham,’whominimaginationIamatthismomentpressingtomyfondbosom,putoff,ifitbepossible,yourintolerance。’144*Theirfriendship,however,didnotsufferfromthisdiscord,andtheircorrespondenceisinthesametonetilltheend。InoneofBentham’slettershespeaksofacontemporarycorrespondencewithanothergreatman,whomhedoesnotappeartohavemetpersonally。Hewaswritinglongletters,entreatingthedukeofWellingtontoeclipseCromwellbysuccessfullyattackingthelawyers。Thedukewrote’immediateanswersinhisownhand,’andtookgood-humouredlyaremonstrancefromBenthamupontheduelwithLordWinchilseain1829。145*Benthamwasreadytotheendtoseekalliesinanyquarter。WhenLordSidmouthtookofficein1812,Benthamhadaninterviewwithhim,andhadsomehopesofbeingemployedtoprepareapenalcode。146*AlthoughexperiencehadconvincedhimofthefutilityofexpectationsfromtheSidmouthsandEldons,hewasalwaysonthelookoutforsympathy;andthevenerableoldmanwasnaturallytreatedwithrespectbypeoplewhohadlittleenoughofrealinterestinhisdoctrines。
  Duringthelasttenyearsofhislife,Benthamwascheeredbysymptomsofthetriumphofhiscreed。TheapproachofthemillenniumseemedtobeindicatedbythegatheringofthevariousforceswhichcarriedRomanCatholicEmancipationandtheReformBill。Benthamstillreceivedtestimoniesofhisfameabroad。In1825hevisitedParistoconsultsomephysicians。HewasreceivedwiththerespectwhichtheFrenchcanalwayspaytointellectualeminence。147*Allthelawyersinacourtofjusticerosetoreceivehim,andhewasplacedatthepresident’srighthand。Ontherevolutionof1830,headdressedsomegoodadvicetothecountryofwhichhehadbeenmadeacitizennearlyfortyyearsbefore。In1832,Talleyrand,towhomhehadtalkedaboutthePanopticonin1792,dinedwithhimaloneinhishermitage。148*
  WhenBowringobservedtotheprincethatBentham’sworkshadbeenplundered,thepolitediplomatistreplied,etpillé;detoutlemonde,ilesttoujoursriche。Benthamwasbythistimefailing。Ateighty-twohewasstill,asheputit,’codifyinglikeanydragon。’149*On18thMay1832hedidhislastbitofhislife-longlabour,uponthe’ConstitutionalCode。’Thegreatreformagitationwasreachingthelandofpromise,butBenthamwastodieinthewilderness。Hesankwithoutastruggleon6thJune1832,hisheadrestingonBowring’sbosom。Heleftthecharacteristicdirectionthathisbodyshouldbedissectedforthebenefitofscience。Anincisionwasformallymade;andtheoldgentleman,inhisclothesashelived,hisfacecoveredbyawaxmask,isstilltobeseenatUniversityCollegeinGowerStreet。
  Bentham,aswearetold,hadastrongpersonalresemblancetoBenjaminFranklin。Sagacity,benevolence,andplayfulnesswereexpressedinbothphysiognomies。
  Bentham,however,differedfromthemanwhoseintellectpresentsmanypointsoflikeness,inthathewasnotamanofthemarket-placeortheoffice。