John Stuart Mill

Autograph letter signed to Edmond Beales. 1868

A fine political letter relating to Mill's political career

Autograph letter signed to Edmond Beales.
Avignon, Oct 9, 1868

Octavo, 13.5 x 21.0 cm, 4 pages in ink, embossed JSM initials on writing paper, lightly dust-soiled, slight creasing and chipping at fore-edge, repaired without loss.
£3,500 [plus VAT if applicable]

A very fine political letter to Edmond Beales, relating to one of the most notable episodes in Mill’s later political career. In it, Mill outlines his reasons for favouring the reformer Edwin Chadwick over the trade unionist Alexander McDonald as the Liberal candidate for Kilmarnock.
Chadwick was a founder member of Mill’s London Debating Society and had been acquainted with Mill since 1824.Edward Pleydell-Bouverie, who had been the Liberal member for Kilmarnock for twenty-five years, protested at Mill’s action in recommending Chadwick and publication of Mill’s reply to Bouverie was considered by many to have cost Mill his seat at Westminster.
Edmond Beales was closely connected with radical groups active in the campaign for American and European democracy. He stood unsuccessfully as Liberal candidate for Tower Hamlets in 1868, and Mill here discusses his prospects.
Mineka, The later letters of John Stuart Mill no.1301.[the manuscript draft at John Hopkins].