Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 23.djvu/301

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Grote
293
Grote

manuscript remains, published in 1876 as 'Fragments on Ethical Subjects,' all Grote's occasional writings that found their way into print have been mentioned above. Two of the 'Fragments,' dealing with Aristotle, were taken up into the second edition (1880) of his unfinished work on the philosopher; the others, of uncertain date—probably early—are of interest in connection with the development of Bentham's utilitarian theory, especial stress being laid by Grote upon the essentially reciprocal character of the moral tie. The 'Plato' was twice reprinted (1867, 1874) in 3 vols. 8vo before being thrown (by Professor Bain), with slight rearrangement, definitively into 4 vols. post 8vo. The 'History,' besides reissues of particular volumes before the work was completed, has appeared in five editions: 12 vols. 8vo 1846-1856, 8 vols. 8vo 1862, 12 vols. post 8vo 1870, 10 vols. 8vo 1872, 10 vols. post 8vo 1888 (this last to stand); it was translated into German 1850-7, into French 1864-7.

[Mrs. Grote's Personal Life of George Grote (corrected above at various points); Professor Bain on his Intellectual Character and Writings in Minor Works, pp. 1-170; information from the family; personal knowledge.]

G. C. R.

GROTE, HARRIET (1792–1878), biographer, wife of the historian George Grote [q. v.], was born at The Ridgeway, near Southampton, on 1 July 1792. Her father, Thomas Lewin, after spending some years in the Madras civil service, came back in the same ship with the divorced Madame Grand (from Pondicherry) who afterwards married Talleyrand, and remained with her for a time at Paris in the years preceding the revolution. Settling then in England, and marrying a Miss Hale (daughter of General Hale and a Miss Chaloner, descended from Thomas Chaloner, regicide [q. v.]), who brought him a large family, he lived in good style, keeping a house in town as well as in the country. Harriet Lewin grew up a high-spirited, brilliant girl, and at the age of twenty-two, her father then residing at The Hollies, near Bexley in Kent, attracted the passionate devotion of George Grote, her junior by two years, who lived with his parents not far off. When, after much trouble and long delays [see Grote, George], they were at last united in 1820, Mrs. Grote, who had been preparing herself by serious studies, under his written direction, to share Grote's intellectual interests, proved to be exactly the helpmate that he needed in life. Possessed of great vivacity and remarkable conversational powers, she sought from the first to draw him from the studious retirement to which he was inclined. Even in the more straitened circumstances of their first years she began to cultivate that intimacy with foreigners, especially French public men, that took them later so often abroad and ended by making herself one of the chief intermediaries of her time between France and England. During Grote's parliamentary period she gave no small support to his public efforts by holding together in social bonds the party of radical reformers; and, when the time of disappointment came, she was forward to strengthen his resolve to devote himself to the scholarly work which had been his first ambition. His 'History' was carefully read through by her before publication of almost every volume, but she helped him most effectually in providing favourable conditions for his labour. Having a genius for the management of landed property as well as of a household, she relieved him of all trouble on this side. After their circumstances became easy in 1830, their various places of residence, chosen by her for the promotion of Grote's public or private work but not without regard also to her own likings, deserve mention for the social use to which she was constant in turning them. From 1832 till 1837 they lived chiefly at Dulwich Wood, then, for greater convenience of parliamentary attendance, at 3 Eccleston Street, which they did not give up till 1848 for the well-known 12 Savile Row, associated with the literary fame and administrative activity of all Grote's later years. From 1838 a country-house was also established, at East Burnham (near Burnham Beeches) in Buckinghamshire, and this they maintained till 1850; replacing it by a small domicile, which they proceeded to build in the neighbourhood and occupied, under the name of 'History Hut,' from the beginning of 1853 till the end of 1857, when, for reasons detailed by Mrs. Grote in an interesting 'Account of the Hamlet of East Burnham' (privately circulated at the time), they decided to leave the region. Being then desirous of making their life in the country a more settled one, they took from 1859 the spacious Barrow Green House in Surrey, which once had been occupied by Bentham; but, this proving inconveniently situated for Grote's necessary visits to London, it was given up in 1863. In 1864 they settled finally at Shiere, Surrey, in 'The Ridgeway' as it was called by Mrs. Grote, after the place of her birth. At all these houses she exercised a hospitality which was of great benefit to Grote, distracting him from too close application to work and developing the exquisite courtesy of his nature. Herself an accomplished musician (while