nior by eight years, tried in 1821 to persuade
him to come out as one of a committee of 'Guardians of Constitutional
Reform,' elected at a public meeting.[331] Bentham wisely refused to be
drawn from his privacy. He left it to his friends to agitate, while he
returned to labour in his study. The demand for legislation which had
sprung up in so many parts of the world encouraged Bentham to undertake
the last of his great labours. The Portuguese Cortes voted in December
1821 that he should be invited to prepare an 'all-comprehensive code';
and in 1822 he put out a curious 'Codification proposal,' offering to do
the work for any nation in need of a legislator, and appending
testimonials to his competence for the work. He set to work upon a
'Constitutional Code,' which occupied him at intervals during the
remainder of his life, and embodied the final outcome of his
speculations. He diverged from this main purpose to write various
pamphlets upon topics of immediate interest; and was keenly interested
in the various activities of his disciples. The Utilitarians now thought
themselves entitled to enter the field of politics as a distinct body.
An organ to defend their cause was desirable, and Bentham supplied the
funds for the _Westminster Review_, of which the first number appeared
in April 1824.

The editorship fell chiefly into the hands of Bowring (1792-1872).
Bowring had travelled much upon the Continent for a commercial house,
and his knowledge of Spanish politics had brought him into connection
with Bentham, to whom Blaquiere recommended him in 1820.[332] A strong
attachment sprang up between the two. Bentham confided all his thoughts
and feelings to the young man, and Bowring looked up to his teacher with
affectionate reverence. In 1828 Bentham says that Bowring is 'the most
intimate friend he has.'[333] Bowring complains of calumnies, by which
he was assailed, though they failed to alienate Bentham. What they may
have been matters little; but it is clear that a certain jealousy arose
between this last disciple and his older rivals. James Mill's stern and
rigid character had evidently produced some irritation at intervals; and
to him it would naturally appear that Bowring was the object of a senile
favouritism. In any case it is to be regretted that Bentham thus became
partly alienated from his older friends[334]. Mill was too proud to
complain; and never wavered in his allegiance to the master's
principles. But one re