30 September 1872 – 6 October 1872

'Suicide of Justice .' C, as usual, speaks of suicide in a matter-of-tact and rather sympa- thetic tone : ' the Roman death — Venio, Proserpina ! etc' C. looks through all the principal English Periodicals and is uneasy to miss one, but seldom finds anything to praise. I was surprised to-day to find him speaking with some approval of a paper in the Fortnightly Review on ' The Morality of Marriage,' advising people to restrict the number of children, on economic grounds. I argued against the public discussion of such a subject in such a tone. The question, if it arises, is one for private decision in each case (wife's health for instance may be weighty consideration), and is not to be settled by general rules of frugality or economy. When children are a burden, the constitution of society is accused. Carlyle would not listen, and I was much hurt and disturbed by his having, apparently, come round to a grossly utilitarian view which he once abhorred, and which he had strongly censured in Stuart Mill. But I believe that all C. wishes to inculcate is self-denial, and that he thought of nothing else. He objects to Taine's book on England, — The account of the Derby Day — boxing, etc. — ' 1 find it is not true — it is incredible — inconceivable, etc. etc. ! ' Now C. has never been at the Derby ; I have, — and can believe it all.