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Fitzjames's hatred of all exaggeration, his resolute refusal to be either sentimental or optimistic, led him to insist upon the gloomy side of things. Moreover, he was still indolent; given to be slovenly in his work, and rather unsocial in his ways, though warmly attached to a few friends.
Llewelyn Davies, 'It does not seem to be in the natural order of things that Harcourt should be in the House and I not there to criticise him. Fitzjames's position in regard both to theology and politics requires a little further notice.
This was, I think, strictly true, and applies to other parts of his book. Partly from pugnacity and partly from contempt of sentimentalism, he manages to put the harsher side of his opinions in front. This appears as we approach the ultimate base of his theory. I have spoken more than once of Fitzjames's respect for Hobbes.
From Fitzjames's letters written at the time, I find that his study of the papers published by the Commission convinced him that Governor Eyre had gone beyond the proper limits in his behaviour towards Gordon.
I am only concerned to say that Fitzjames's whole theory is based upon the view sufficiently expounded already that force, order, and justice require a firm basis of 'coercion'; and that, while we must be strictly just, according to our own views of justice, we must not allow our hands to be tied by hollow fictions about the 'rights' of races really unfit for the exercise of the corresponding duties.
I quote from a letter written by my father during Fitzjames's academical career to show what was the relation at this time between the two men. My father dictates to my mother a letter to Fitzjames, dated January 19, 1849. 'You well know, he says, 'that I have long since surmounted that paternal ambition which might have led me to thirst for your eminence as a scholar.
He had to sentence a criminal to penal servitude, when the man's wife began to scream; he was touched by her grief, and left a small sum with the mayor to be given to her without mention of his name. The place was, it seems, practically the gift of the Duke of Newcastle; and Bethell, then Attorney-General, wrote to him in favour of Fitzjames's appointment.
I must add that this feeling was coloured by Fitzjames's personal qualities.
I must mention one other incident which occurred at the end of Fitzjames's stay in India. One Ram Singh was the spiritual and political chief of a sect called the Kookas. His disciples showed their zeal by murdering butchers as a protest against cow-killing.
This argument was adopted by Mill in his 'examination of Sir W. Hamilton's philosophy. I cannot say that I think it a fortunate suggestion; and I only notice it as an indication of Fitzjames's intellectual position.
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