The Online Library of Liberty A Project Of Liberty Fund, Inc. Herbert Spencer, An Autobiography, vol. 2 [1904] The Online Library Of Liberty This E-Book (PDF format) is published by Liberty Fund, Inc., a private, non-profit, educational foundation established in 1960 to encourage study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. 2010 was the 50th anniversary year of the founding of Liberty Fund. It is part of the Online Library of Liberty web site http://oll.libertyfund.org, which was established in 2004 in order to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. To find out more about the author or title, to use the site's powerful search engine, to see other titles in other formats (HTML, facsimile PDF), or to make use of the hundreds of essays, educational aids, and study guides, please visit the OLL web site. This title is also part of the Portable Library of Liberty DVD which contains over 1,000 books and quotes about liberty and power, and is available free of charge upon request. The cuneiform inscription that appears in the logo and serves as a design element in all Liberty Fund books and web sites is the earliest-known written appearance of the word “freedom” (amagi), or “liberty.” It is taken from a clay document written about 2300 B.C. in the Sumerian city-state of Lagash, in present day Iraq. To find out more about Liberty Fund, Inc., or the Online Library of Liberty Project, please contact the Director at [email protected]. LIBERTY FUND, INC. 8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Suite 300 Indianapolis, Indiana 46250-1684 Online Library of Liberty: An Autobiography, vol. 2 Edition Used: An Autobiography by Herbert Spencer. Illustrated in Two Volumes. Vol. 2 (New York: D. Appleton and Company 1904). Author: Herbert Spencer About This Title: Volume 2 of a 2 volume work. In volume 2 Spencer covers the period from 1856 to 1889 soon after he had completed his trip to the United States. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 2 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2323 Online Library of Liberty: An Autobiography, vol. 2 About Liberty Fund: Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. Copyright Information: The text is in the public domain. Fair Use Statement: This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 3 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2323 Online Library of Liberty: An Autobiography, vol. 2 Table Of Contents Herbert Spencer’s Works. Part VII.: 1856—1860. Chapter XXX.: A System of Philosophy Projected. 1857—8. Æt. 37—38. Chapter XXXI.: Plans For Executing It. 1858—59. Æt. 38—39. Chapter XXXII.: A Plan Fixed Upon. 1859—60. Æt. 39—40. Part VIII.: 1860—1867. Chapter XXXIII.: Writing First Principles. 1860—62. Æt. 40—42. Chapter XXXIV.: An Autumn’s Relaxations. 1862. Æt. 42. Chapter XXXV.: A Volume of the Biology. 1862—64. Æt. 42—44. Chapter XXXVI.: A Digression. 1864. Æt. 43. Chapter XXXVII.: Another Volume of the Biology. 1864—67. Æt. 44—47. Chapter XXXVIII.: Impending Cessation. 1866. Æt. 46. Chapter XXXIX.: Sad Events. 1866—67. Æt. 46—47. Part IX.: 1867—1874. Chapter Xl.: Re-casting First Principles. 1867. Æt. 47. Chapter Xli.: an Imprudence and Its Consequences. 1867. Æt. 47. Chapter Xlii.: a Tour In Italy. 1868. Æt. 47. Chapter Xliii.: Developing the Psychology. 1867—70. Æt. 47—50. Chapter Xliv.: Finishing the Psychology. 1870—72. Æt. 50—52. Chapter Xlv.: an Extra Book. 1872—73. Æt. 52—53. Chapter Xlvi.: Some Minor Incidents. 1873. Æt. 53. Chapter Xlvii.: the Descriptive Sociology. 1867—74. Æt. 47—54. Part X.: 1874—1879. Chapter Xlviii.: a Retrospective Glance. 1874. Æt. 54. Chapter Xlix.: Vol. I. Of the Sociology. 1874—77. Æt. 54—57. Chapter L.: a Series of Articles. 1877—78. Æt. 57—58. Chapter Li.: the Data of Ethics. 1878—79. Æt. 58—59. Chapter Lii.: Ceremonial Institutions. 1879. Æt. 59. Part XI.: 1879—1889. Chapter Liii.: Up the Nile. 1879—80. Æt. 59. Chapter Liv.: Ending of the Descriptive Sociology. 1874—81. Æt. 54—61. Chapter Lv.: Political Institutions. 1880—82. Æt. 60—62. Chapter Lvi.: a Grievous Mistake. 1881—82. Æt. 61. Chapter Lvii.: Coming Events. 1881—82. Æt. 61—62. Chapter Lviii.: a Visit to America. 1882. Æt. 62. Chapter Lix.: Conclusion. 1882—89. Æt. 62—69. Part XII. Chapter Lx.: Reflections Appendices. A Note: Concerning the Life and Letters of T.h. Huxley. Appendix A.: Programme of the Synthetic Philosophy Appendix B.: Letter to Mr. G. H. Lewes Appendix C.: Documents Concerning the Cessation of the Issue of the Philosophy PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 4 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2323 Online Library of Liberty: An Autobiography, vol. 2 Appendix D.: A New Invalid-bed Appendix E.: English Feeling About the American Civil War Appendix F.: a New Fishing-rod Joint Appendix G.: Obituary Notice of J. S. Mill Appendix H.: Herbert Spencer and His American Friends. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 5 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2323 Online Library of Liberty: An Autobiography, vol. 2 [Back to Table of Contents] HERBERT SPENCER’S WORKS. Synthetic Philosophy: First Principles. 1 vol. 12mo. $2.00. The Principles of Biology. 2 vols. 12mo. $4.00. The Principles of Psychology. 2 vols. 12mo. $4.00. The Principles of Sociology. 3 vols. 12mo. $6.00. The Principles of Ethics. 2 vols. 12mo. $4.00. Essays: Scientific, Political, and Speculative. New edition; 3 vols. 12mo. $6.00. Social Statics, ALridged and Revised: and The ManversusThe State. 1 vol. 12mo. $2.00. The Study of Sociology. 1 vol. 12mo. $1.50. Education. 1 vol. 12mo. Cloth, $1.25; paper, 50 cents. Facts and Comments. 1 vol. 12mo. $1.20 net; postage, 12 cents additional. Various Fragments. 1 vol. 12mo. Cloth, $1.25. The Inadequacy of “Natural Selection.” 1 vol. 12mo. Paper, 30 cents. Descriptive Sociology. A Cyclopædia of Social Facts. 8vo. Folio. $35.00 D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, NEW YORK. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 6 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2323 Online Library of Liberty: An Autobiography, vol. 2 [Back to Table of Contents] PART VII. 1856—1860. XXX.A System of Philosophy Projected. XXXI.Plans for Executing It. XXXII.A Plan Fixed Upon. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 7 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/2323 Online Library of Liberty: An Autobiography, vol. 2 [Back to Table of Contents] CHAPTER XXX. A SYSTEM OF PHILOSOPHY PROJECTED. 1857—8. Æt. 37—38. My search for a fit place of abode when I returned to town, ended satisfactorily. Malvern House, otherwise 13, Loudoun Road, St. John’s Wood, in which I settled myself, is a good house seated in the midst of a garden walled round. The occupier, who carried on a wholesale business in the city, and who, as I afterward learnt, feared to fall into a state of chronic melancholy, as his father had done before him, had hit on a prophylactic—surrounding himself with a lively circle. In addition to the family, consisting of host and hostess, three daughters and a son, ranging from seven up to about twenty, and a governess, there were as boarders an old retired government official (a commissioner of some kind I think he had been) lively notwithstanding his years—eighty and a wit; a “grass-widow,” pleasant to look upon but without an idea in her head, whose husband was in India; and her friend, a vain old lady who played the part of duenna. Beyond the fitness of the circle and the salubrity of the locality, which is on the backbone of St. John’s Wood, the place had the advantage that it was within two minutes’ walk of No. 1, Waverley Place, then occupied by Huxley. We had a standing engagement for Sunday afternoons: a walk of a few miles into the country along the Finchley Road, or up to Hampstead, being the usual routine. Many pleasant talks and useful discussions there were between us on those occasions during the succeeding year. I remember that once when, as it would seem, society and human life as at present existing had been topics of somewhat pessimistic comment, I said (not however doing justice to my thought)—“Yes, one cannot hope for much more than to make one’s mark and die.” Whereupon Huxley, with greater self-abnegation, responded—“Never mind about the mark: it is enough if one can give a push.” Reference to these walks and talks reminds me of an incident connected with one of them. Shortly after I had established myself in Loudoun Road, Buckle called. It was on a Sunday afternoon. Our conversation had not gone far when I intimated that the hour had come for the usual excursion; and, on my answering his inquiry who Huxley was (for then he was not widely known), Buckle agreed to go with me to be introduced. He went with us a short distance up the Finchley Road; but, saying that he had an engagement, presently turned back. We looked after him as he walked away; and Huxley, struck by his feeble, undecided gait, remarked—“Ah, I see the kind of man. He is top-heavy.” I have never done more than dip into The History of Civilization in England; but I suspect that the analogy suggested was not without truth.