第73章 BENTHAM'S LIFE(17)

Unscrupulous，restlessly active and cynical，he was a singular contrast to the placid philosopher，upon whom his confidences seem to have made an impression of not unpleasing horror.Burr's conversation suggested to Bentham a singular scheme for emigrating to Mexico.He applied seriously for introductions to Lord Holland，who had passed some time in Spain，and to Holland's friend，Jovellanos (1749-1812)，a member of the Spanish Junta，who had written treatises upon legislation (1785)，of which Bentham approved.(118)The dream of Mexico was succeeded by a dream of Venezuela.General Miranda spent some years in England，and had become well known to James Mill.He was now about to start upon an unfortunate expedition to Venezuela，his native country.He took with him a draft of a law for the freedom of the press，which Bentham drew up，and he proposed that when his new state was founded，Bentham should be its legislator.(119)Miranda was betrayed to the Spanish government in 1812，and died (1816)in the hands of the Inquisition.Bolivar，who was also in London in 1810and took some notice of Joseph Lancaster，applied in flattering terms to Bentham.Long afterwards，when dictator of Columbia，he forbade the use of Bentham's works in the schools，to which，however，the privilege of reading him was restored，and，let us hope，duly valued，in 1835.(120)Santander，another South American hero，was also a disciple，and encouraged the study of Bentham.Bentham says in 1830that forty thousand copies of Dumont's Traités had been sold in Paris for the South American trade.(121)What share Bentham may have had in modifying South American ideas is unknown to me.In the United States he had many disciples of a more creditable kind than Burr.He appealed in 1811to Madison，then President，for permission to construct a 'Pannomion'or complete body of law，for the use of the United States；and urged his claims both upon Madison and the Governor of Pennsylvania in 1817，when peace had been restored.He had many conversations upon this project with John Quincy Adams，who was then American minister in England.(122)This，of course，came to nothing，but an eminent American disciple，Edward Livingston (1764-1836)，between 1820and 1830prepared codes for the State of Louisiana，and warmly acknowledged his obligations to Bentham.(123)In 1830Bentham also acknowledges a notice of his labours，probably resulting from this，which had been made in one of General Jackson's presidential messages.(124)In his later years the United States became his ideal，and he never tired of comparing its cheap and honest enactment with the corruption and extravagance at home.

V.CODIFICATION.

The unsettled conditions which followed the peace in various European countries found Bentham other employment.In 1809Dumont did some codifying for the Emperor of Russia，and in 1817was engaged to do the same service for Geneva.He was employed for some years，and is said to have introduced a Benthamite Penal Code and Panopticon，and an application of the Tactics.(125)In 1820and 1821Bentham was consulted by the Constitutional party in Spain and Portugal，and wrote elaborate tracts for their enlightenment.He made an impression upon at least one Spaniard.Borrow，when travelling in Spain some ten years after Bentham's death，was welcomed by an Alcalde on Cape Finisterre，who had upon his shelves all the works of the 'grand Baintham，'and compared him to Solon，Plato，and even Lope de Vega.(126)The last comparison appeared to Borrow to be overstrained.Bentham even endeavoured in 1822-23to administer some sound advice to the government of Tripoli，but his suggestions for 'remedies against misrule'seem never to have been communicated.(127)In 1823and 1824he was a member of the Greek Committee；he corresponded with Mavrocordato and other leaders；and he begged Parr to turn some of his admonitions into 'Parrian'Greek for the benefit of the moderns.(128)Blaquière and Stanhope，two ardent members of the committee，were disciples；and Stanhope carried with him to Greece Bentham's Table of the Springs of Action，with which he tried to indoctrinate Byron.The poet，however，thought with some plausibility that he was a better judge of human passions than the philosopher.

Parry，the engineer，who joined Byron at the same time，gives a queer account of the old philosopher trotting about London in the service of the Greeks.(129)The coarse and thoughtless might laugh，and perhaps some neither coarse nor thoughtless might smile.But Bowring tells us that these were days of boundless happiness for Bentham.(130)Tributes of admiration were pouring in from all sides，and the true Gospel was spreading across the Atlantic and along the shores of the Mediterranean.

At home the Utilitarian party was consolidating itself；and the struggle which resulted in the Reform Bill was slowly beginning.The veteran Cartwright，Bentham's senior by eight years，tried in 1821to persuade him to come out as one of a committee of 'Guardians of Constitutional Reform，'elected at a public meeting.(131)Bentham wisely refused to be drawn from his privacy.

He left it to his friends to agitate，while he returned to labour in his study.The demand for legislation which had sprung up in so many parts of the world encouraged Bentham to undertake the last of his great labours.