Page:Littell's Living Age - Volume 126.djvu/518

506 that in 1864 he delivered to the Society bearing that name on "Colonization and Colonial Government" shows nearly as deep and thorough a study of one of the most complicated political problems of the present day as does the lecture, delivered two years before to the same Society, on "The Revolution in America," containing, as that did, the pith of the opinions that had fuller expression in "The Slave Power." In 1865, moreover, he began to embody the results of other careful study and close reflection in a work on the industrial condition of Ireland, of which he said, "The practical aim was to lead up to a discussion of the land question, then pressing for solution." But "the work was interrupted by ill health," and so much of it as he had been able to write was only published in 1873, under the title of "Fragments on Ireland," as a contribution towards the discussion that has yet to be fairly entered upon when reformers are ready to carry on the work very partially begun by the Irish Land Act of 1870. "There are few questions," he said, "which can arise in the course of legislation for Ireland — even if we could consider the Irish land problem as definitively settled — which do not require for their intelligent discussion a constant reference to the crisis through which the country has recently passed, as well as a correct apprehension of the nature and direction of the economical forces now shaping its industrial career." When the discussion begins, Prof. Cairnes's statement of some of these economical forces will be found to be of a value quite disproportionate to the number of pages that it fills.

Ill health thus checked him, nearly ten years ago, in an undertaking of great importance, in which, as an Irishman and an economist, he proposed, following the rule of his life, to bring the questions of deepest moment in his country within the cognizance of political economy. Ill health checked other work. Overwork, as we have already observed, began to tell upon a not very robust constitution in his early studious years. He could not keep from overwork; but he sought to counteract its bad effects by taking plenty of out-door exercise. Hunting was his favourite pastime, and, as he thought, his chief safeguard. But it proved otherwise. A fall from his horse did serious injury to one of his legs, and thus his constitutional weakness was localized and intensified in the injured part until the painful malady spread from one limb to the whole body, and he gradually became altogether crippled. Throughout ten years he fought bravely against disease, but it slowly mastered him, and, during these ten years, all the work he did was done amid ever-increasing difficulties, and, at length, amid agonies that would have been intolerable to a man less resolved to do all the good work that it could be possible for him to do.

He was an invalid when, in 1866, he was appointed professor of political economy in University College, London; but he did not despair of recovery, and looked forward to a life of greater usefulness in the metropolis, where also he could find relaxation in more congenial society than Galway or even Dublin afforded. For a few years he was a prominent member of the Political Economy Club. It was with no slight pain to him, in addition to the bodily pain that harassed him, that he was forced gradually to withdraw from all social intercourse that could not be brought within the circle of his own quiet home. Desiring to do much more hard work, he had only strength to write occasional articles in the magazines and newspapers, and to prepare the lectures which all who had the good fortune to attend his classes will always remember as rich stores of profound teaching, put forth with extraordinary clearness and simplicity. In the winter of 1868-9, he was obliged, leaving a substitute, to forego even those lectures, and to seek improvement of his health by a long holiday in Italy and the south of France. Coming back, he lectured on for three years more, and, during the last year, it may be noticed, one excellent result issued from his bad health. Our readers will remember that, a few years ago, an important movement was set on foot for supplying ladies anxious for "higher education" with lectures from the professors of University College, and in this movement Prof. Cairnes took a hearty interest from the beginning. There was, at first, no thought of the lectures being given within the college walls, and we believe that even many of those who initiated the plan would have shrunk in alarm from such a dangerous proximity of the sexes. To the syllabus of Mr. Cairnes's college lectures for 1871-2, however, was appended this note: "By special permission of the council, ladies are admitted to this class." Mr. Cairnes had not strength for two concurrent classes; but 