BENTHAM, JEREMY, an eccentric but eminent writer on ethics and jurisprudence, was the son of a wealthy solicitor in London, where he was born (in Red Lion street, llouudsditch) on the 15th Feb., 1748. He received his early education at 'Westminster school; and, when yet a boy, being little more than twelve years of age, he went to Queen's college, Oxford, where he took his master's degree in 1766. But though his years were so tender, he appears not to have been so unprepared as might be supposed to benefit by the university; for before entering it, he had already, by his precocious tendencies to speciilation, acquired the title of "philosopher." On graduating, his father, who expected his sou to become lord chancellor, set him to the study of the law at Lincoln's inn, where he was called to the bar in 1772. Ile never practiced in his profession, however, for which he had a strong distaste, which is paraded in many of his writings. Turning from the practice of law to its theory, lie became the greatest critic of legislation and government in his day. His first publication, A I•agrrent on Gorernment, 1776, was au acutely hypercritical examination of "a, passage in Blackstone's annmentaries, prompted, as he has himself explained, by "a passion for improvement iu those shapes iu which the lot of mankind is meliorated by it." The abounds in fine, original, and just observation; it contains the germs of most of his after writings, and must be highly esteemed, if we look away from its disproportion to it.s subject and the writer's disregard of method. The Fragment procured him the acquaint ance of lord Lansdowne, in whose society at Bowood he afterwards passed perhaps the most agreeable hours of his life. It was in the Bowood society that he conceived an attachment to Miss Caroline Fox (Lord Holland's sister), who was still a young lady, when B., in the 54th year of his age. offered her his heart and hand, and was rejected "with all respect." In 1778, he published a pamphlet on The Hard Labor Bill, recom mending an improvement in the mode of criminal punishment; which lie followed in 1811 by A Theory of Punishments and Rewards. In these two works, B. did more than
any other writer of his time to rationalize the theory of punishments by consideration of their various kinds and effects, their true objects, and the conditions of their efficiency. He published, in 1787. Letters on Usury; in 1789, Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation; in 1802, Discourses on (Writ and Penal .Legbdation; in 1813, A Treatise on Judicial Eridenee; in 1817, Paper Belatire to Codification and Public Instruc tion; in 1824, The Book of Fallacies. These were followed by other works of less con sequence. His whole productions have been collected and edited by Dr. Bowring and Mr. John Bill Burton, and published in eleven volitines. It is well, however, for B.'s reputation, that it does not rest uholly on his collected works; and that he found in 31. Dumont, Mr. James Mill, and sir Sainnel Romilly, ..gencrons disciples to diffuse his principles and promote his fame. In his early works, his style was clear, free, spirited, and often eloquent; but in his later works it became repulsive, through being over loaded and darkened with technical teens. It is in regard to these more especially that M. Dumont has most materially served his master by arranging,. and translating them into French, through the medium of which language B.'s doctrines were propagated throughout Europe. till they became more popular abroad than at home. 3Ir. James 31111, himself an independent thinker, did much in his writings to extend the application in new directions of B.'s principles. a work in which, apart from his original efforts, he has achieved a lasting monument of his own subtilty and vigor of mind. Criticisms of B.'s writings will be foundin the En'inburgli. Perkin, by sir Samuel Romilly, and in the Ethical DisYertation (Encyclopirdia 1?ritannica, 7th and 8th eds.), by sir James Mackin tosh. But the most valuable contribution in English to his reputation is unquestionably Benthamiana, by Mr. John Hill Burton, advocate. containing a memoir, selections of all the leading and important passages from his various writing, and an appendix embrac ing an essay on his system. and a brief clear view of all his leading doctrines.