Insteadofbeingdisciples，theyweresimplypersonsinterestedinaphilosopher，manyofwhosetenetstheyutterlyrepudiated，andthoughtthattheyhaddonequiteenoughtoshowtheirrespect。Mill，asthemediatorinanawkwardposition，actedwithallpossiblefranknessanddelicacy，butthedivergencewasgrowing。When，in1845，Comteproposedtostartareviewtopropagatehisdoctrine，Millhadtopointoutthatheandhisfriendswerepartialallies，notsubjects，andthatpositivismwasnotyetsufficientlyestablishedtosetupasaschool。57*
Graduallythediscorddeveloped，andthecorrespondencedropped。
Comte’slastletterisdated3rdSeptember1846，andaletterfromMillof17thMay1847，speakingoftheIrishfamine，producednoreply。Millrecognisedthehopelessdifferences，andcametothinkthatComte’sdoctrineofthespiritualpowerimpliedadespotismoftheworstkind。HeexpressedhisdisapprovalinhisfinalcriticismofComte，andinthelatereditionsoftheLogicconsiderablymodifiedsomeofhisearlycompliments。58*
On3rdApril1844MillinformsComtethathehasputasidetheEthology，hisideasbeingnotyetripe，andhasresolvedtowriteatreatiseuponPoliticalEconomy。HeisawareofComte’slowopinionofthisstudy，andexplainsthatheonlyattachesaprovisionalvaluetoitssociologicalbearing。Thebook，heexplains，willonlytakeafewmonthstowrite。Thesubject，indeed，hadbeenneverfarfromhisthoughtssincehisfatherhadinearlydaysexpoundedtohimtheprinciplesofRicardo。HehaddiscussedeconomicquestionswiththemeetingsatGrote’shouse；
hehadwrittenhisEssaysuponUnsettledQuestions；andhadbeentakingapartbyhisreviewsandarticlesincontroversiesuponsuchtopicsastheCorn-laws，thecurrency，andthePoor-law。Hethushadonlytoexpoundopinionsalreadyformed，andthebookwaswrittenfarmorerapidlythantheLogic。Begunintheautumnof1845，itwasfinishedbytheendof1847。SixmonthsoutofthiswerespentinwritinganelaborateseriesofarticlesintheMorningChronicleduringthedisastrouswinterof1846-47，urgingtheformationofpeasantpropertiesonthewastelandsofIreland。59*Thearticles，ofwhichfourorfiveoftenappearedinaweek，wereremarkableinthejournalismoftheday；buthisproposalsfailedtoattractattentionfromEnglishstupidityandprejudice。HetellsComteinhislastletterthattheEnglishwishtohelpIreland；but，fromtheirtotalignoranceofContinentalsystems，canonlythinkofenablingthepopulationtoliveaspaupers，insteadofintroducingtheoneobviousremedy。