burgh Review,’ which was of great service, as Thackeray always considered, to the growth of the author's reputation. He was, however, chiefly interested in politics, and his most important articles appeared in the ‘Edinburgh Review’ after 1840. Brougham speaks of him as a ‘great acquisition’ in a letter to Macvey Napier of 16 July 1841 (Napier Correspondence, p. 352), and for several years he wrote many articles upon political and economic questions. Many references in the letters to Napier show that these articles were highly valued at the time, and written after consultation with the most trusted authorities of the party. Sir James Stephen writes to Napier in 1842 (ib. p. 379), that Senior ‘cannot be too highly valued in his own peculiar walk, which is that of comprehensive, mature, and luminous thinking about permanent national interests.’ Senior was, of course, in general sympathy with the whigs of the time, though he was always rather judicial than partisan in his political views. He had been brought into contact not only with Englishmen, but with foreigners of eminence. Alexis de Tocqueville had sought his acquaintance in 1833, and formed a lifelong intimacy. In 1836 Cavour, on his first visit to London, also became a friend, and mentions him in 1844 (Comte Cavour et la Comtesse de Circourt, Lettres inédites, Rome, 1854) as ‘l'esprit le plus éclairé de la Grande-Bretagne.’ Senior made frequent visits to the continent. He was in Paris during the attack upon the national assembly on 15 May 1848. He then began to keep a full journal, and from this time till 1863 recorded conversations with many distinguished men in France and elsewhere. These were frequently revised by the original speakers. Senior took great care to avoid any breach of private confidence; but these records of the opinions of contemporary statesmen upon matters of high importance are often of great historical value. Large parts of them have been published by his daughter, Mrs. Simpson, since his death. The list of his works (see below) gives an indication of the width of his interests, and his desire of obtaining the views of the ablest men of various parties.
Senior was eminently a man of strong common-sense. He was of a placid disposition, and thoroughly enjoyed life. He had a characteristic dislike to dwelling upon painful topics, and maintained a steady reserve on some points. He advises a young friend to study theology carefully, but if he formed unusual opinions, to mention them to none but his most intimate friends. He was a man of strong affections, though not demonstrative in his utterance, and most steadily attached to his numerous friends.
He died at his house in Kensington on 4 June 1864, leaving a widow and two children. His daughter, Mary Charlotte Mair, married Mr. C. T. Simpson. His son, Nassau John (1822–1891), married in 1848 Jane Elizabeth (b 10 Dec. 1828), daughter of John Hughes, of Donnington Priory, and sister of the author of ‘Tom Brown's Schooldays.’ Mrs. Nassau John Senior, a very graceful and accomplished woman, was also generally loved for simplicity and sweetness of character. She took great interest in social questions, and on 18 Jan. 1874 was made temporary inspector of workhouses and pauper schools. She was the first woman to hold such a position. The appointment was made permanent in February 1874, but an illness ultimately fatal forced her to resign in November. Her observations led her to originate the ‘Association for Befriending Young Servants,’ which has been of much service. (The ‘Spectator’ of 31 March and 7 April 1877 describes her work.) She received the medal of the Red Cross Society for her work in the London office during the war of 1870–1871. Mrs. Senior died on 24 March 1877. Her portrait, by Mr. G. F. Watts, R.A., belongs to Mr. Walter Senior.
Senior, says Cossa (Introduction to the Study of Political Economy, 1893, p. 327), deserves the first place among the English economists between Ricardo and J. S. Mill. He wrote much that was valuable upon the distribution of the precious metals, and the causes which determine the rate of wages. He is often noticed for his introduction of the phrase ‘abstinence,’ to describe the motive for the accumulation of capital. He belonged in the main to the school of Ricardo, whom, however, he criticises freely; but his strong common-sense and interest in practical applications of his principles prevent him from stating his doctrine in the absolute form of James Mill and McCulloch. He was especially influenced by Malthus, whose theory he applied to the great reform of the poor laws. Senior was a corresponding member of the French Institute (Sciences morales et politiques).
His separately published works are: 1. ‘Introductory Lecture before the University of Oxford,’ 1827. 2. ‘Three Lectures on the Transmission of the Precious Metals …’ 1828, 2nd edit. 1830. 3. ‘Two Lectures on Population …’ (Easter Term, 1828, and correspondence with Malthus), 1829. 4. ‘Three Lectures on the Rate of Wages, with preface on the Causes and Remedies of the late Dis-
