About this time there was a wide difference of opinion in England in regard to the tendency and influence of the French Revolution.Young minds of a liberal tendency were strongly impressed with the need of political reformation in France.But, as the revolution advanced, not a few who at first favored it became alarmed at the infidelity and the cruel excesses.Burke, in particular, denounced the whole movement in language of extraordinary power and eloquence in his " Reflections." But multitudes were not disposed to abandon the hope which they cherished.Many were the replies to Burke, but they were all feeble compared with that now issued, in April, 1791, -- the " Vindiciae Gallicae," by Mackintosh.The work has not the magnificent glow of Burke;but it is philosophical and eloquent, and had a rapid and wide circulation.At a later date, when some Frenchmen at Paris complimented him on the " Vindiciae Gallicae," he replied: " Messieurs, vous m'avez si bien refute."In 1795 he was called to the bar, and gradually acquired a considerable practice.But his native tendency was still toward speculation, and in 1799 he delivered a course of thirty-nine "Lectures on the Law of Nature and Nations." This work does not exhaust the grand topic of which it treats; but it was a most important contribution to the science of natural and international law, and furnished ample evidence of the eminently philosophical mind of the author." The foundation of moral government and its tests he examined at great length and with much acuteness; he entered into a question which, many years after, received from him almost as much elucidation as can be {350} hoped, -- the relation of conscience and utility as the guides of moral conduct; he showed the vanity of every system that would sacrifice the particular affections to general benevolence; the origin and use of rules and of habits to the moral being." Parr wrote him a characteristic letter: "You dog, nobody can do it better; nobody I say, -- not Hume, not Adam Smith, not Burke, not Dugald Stewart; and the only exception I can think of is Lord Bacon.Yet, you dog, I hate you, for you want decision.0 Jimmy! feel your own powers, assert your dignity, out upon vanity and cherish pride." In writing to Dugald Stewart about the state of philosophical opinion at this time (1802), he says: " One might give a just account of the state of learning at Paris, by saying that the mathematical and physical sciences were very actively and successfully cultivated, polite literature neglected, erudition extinct, and that moral and political speculation were discountenanced by the government and had ceased to interest the public." " Germany is metaphysically mad.France has made some poor efforts which have ended in little more than the substitution of the word ideology for metaphysics."His next great effort was his defence of M.Peltier, an emigrant royalist, for a libel on Napoleon Bonaparte, at that time first consul of France.His oration is regarded by some as one of the most eminent displays of forensic eloquence which modern times have produced.But he has now to consider two very important points,-- one is how he is to execute what he intends to make his life-work, and the other is how is he to get a living suited to his tastes and habits.He has all along been cherishing ambitious literary projects, not always very clearly defined, but pointing towards a great work on moral philosophy and a history of England or certain eras of it.But these schemes could not very well be carried into execution by one who had to toil at the bar.And then he was fond of society, and had not sufficient moral restraint to curb expenditure.In these circumstances he was led to accept (1804) the office of Recorder of Bombay, which was handsomely offered by the tory government, and he became Sir James Mackintosh.He thought he would now be able to undertake and complete, as he expressed it, " my intended work on morals and politics, which I consider as the final cause of my existence." But his hopes were not realized.He had not sufficient decision to contend with the relaxing {351} influence of the climate.
" Our climate may be endured: but I feel that, by its constant though silent operation, existence is rendered less joyous and even less comfortable.I see around me no extraordinary prevalence of disease, but I see no vigorous cheerful health." He longed for letters from England and wrote letters to his friends which are full of thought.
Philosophy is my trade, though I have hitherto been but a poor workman, I observe you touch me with the spur once or twice about my book on morals; I felt it gall me, for I have not begun; and I shall not make any promises to you till Ican say that it is well begun: but I tell you what has either really or apparently to myself retarded me; it was the restless desire of thoroughly mastering the <accursed>