which treats of the logic of the moral
sciences, a radical improvement in the conceptions of logical method was
derived from the _Positive Philosophy_. Their correspondence, which was
full and copious, turned principally upon the two great questions of the
equality between men and women, and of the expediency and constitution
of a sacerdotal or spiritual order. When Comte found himself straitened,
he confided the entire circumstances to Mill. As might be supposed by
those who know the affectionate anxiety with which Mill regarded the
welfare of any one whom he believed to be doing good work in the world,
he at once took pains to have Comte's loss of income made up to him,
until Comte should have had time to repair that loss by his own
endeavour. Mill persuaded Grote, Molesworth, and Raikes Currie to
advance the sum of L240. At the end of the year (1845) Comte had taken
no steps to enable himself to dispense with the aid of the three
Englishmen. Mill applied to them again, but with the exception of Grote,
who sent a small sum, they gave Comte to understand that they expected
him to earn his own living. Mill had suggested to Comte that he should
write articles for the English periodicals, and expressed his own
willingness to translate any such articles from the French. Comte at
first fell in with the plan, but he speedily surprised and disconcerted
Mill by boldly taking up the position of "high moral magistrate," and
accusing the three defaulting contributors of a scandalous falling away
from righteousness and a high mind. Mill was chilled by these
pretensions; and the correspondence came to an end. There is something
to be said for both sides. Comte, regarding himself as the promoter of a
great scheme for the benefit of humanity, might reasonably look for the
support of his friends in the fulfilment of his designs. But Mill and
the others were fully justified in not aiding the propagation of a
doctrine in which they might not wholly concur. Comte's subsequent
attitude of censorious condemnation put him entirely in the wrong.

From 1845 to 1848 Comte lived as best he could, as well as made his wife
her allowance, on an income of L200 a year. His little account books of
income and outlay, with every item entered down to a few hours before
his death, are accurate and neat enough to have satisfied an ancient
Roman householder. In 1848, through no fault of his own, his salary was
reduced to L80. Littre and others, with Comte'