Preface

Summary

This work has been in preparation for many years, although for several of those years I was not aware that it was to be a volume of this kind. During its preparation, many people have contributed to it in various ways, and I am grateful for their help.

It was made possible in the first place because the Australian National University granted me study leave in 1967 and 1975 to examine Bentham's manuscripts and printed materials in London and other places. The University has also provided me with other facilities and opportunities. In particular, successive heads of the Department of Political Science have encouraged me to persevere with a topic which, it must be conceded, is not central to the work of the Department.

In the course of my research on Bentham, I made very heavy use of the Library of University College, London, and I want to thank the Librarian of that institution, Mr J. W. Scott, and those of his officers who had to deal with my many requests for help and information, especially Miss M. Skerl, who guided me through the Bentham Mss. for the first time in 1967. At University College, too, Professor J. H. Burns and other members of the Bentham Committee gave me direction and advice when I took my problems to them. I also drew extensively on the resources of the British Library (for both printed works and manuscripts), the Goldsmiths' Library of the University of London and the Public Records Office in London, and the National Library of Australia in Canberra.