Covent Garden piazza and Market, painted in 1726-30 by Joseph Van Aken (?1704–1749). In a free country, said Trenchard and Gordon, low taxes and firm but light regulation fostered an economy in which people worked hard, investors took risks, credit was readily available, and the cost of living was low. In a country where Government was meddlesome and self-serving, all this broke down, to be replaced by inflation and an atmosphere of dishonesty and mistrust.
For these Reasons, Trade cannot be carried on so cheap as in free Countries: and whoever supplies the Commodity cheapest, will command the Market. In free Countries, Men bring out their Money for their life, Pleasure, and Profit, and think of all Ways to employ it for their Interest and Advantage. New Projects are every Day invented, new Trades searched after, new Manufactures set up; and when Tradesmen have nothing to fear but from those whom they trust, Credit will run high, and they will venture in Trade for many times as much as they are worth: But in Arbitrary Countries, Men in Trade are every Moment liable to be undone, without the Guilt of Sea or Wind, without the Folly or Treachery of their Correspondents, or their own want of Care or Industry; their Wealth shall be their Snare, and their Abilities, Vigilance, and their Success shall either be their undoing, or nothing to their Advantage: Nor can they trust any one else, or any one else them, when Payment and Performance must depend upon the Honesty and Wisdom of those who often have none.
Original spelling
Abridged (preserving the original spelling) from ‘Cato’s Letters’ Vol. II (1723) by John Trenchard MP (1662-1723) and Thomas Gordon (?-1750).
Questions for Critics
1. What are the authors aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the authors communicate their ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
In free countries (the authors went on) goods are cheap, credit is easy, new discoveries and inventions flow, and every man can pursue his dream. But in countries where the State can do as it pleases, simply being wealthy attracts the notice of grasping officials, and there is an atmosphere of well-deserved suspicion and distrust that soon stifles business. (59 / 60 words)
In free countries (the authors went on) goods are cheap, credit is easy, new discoveries and inventions flow, and every man can pursue his dream. But in countries where the State can do as it pleases, simply being wealthy attracts the notice of grasping officials, and there is an atmosphere of well-deserved suspicion and distrust that soon stifles business.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, despite, must, otherwise, since, unless, until, whereas.
About the Authors
John Trenchard (1662-1723) was a barrister and MP for Taunton, remembered today for his partnership with his secretary Thomas Gordon (?-1750). In 1720-23, the two men published a series of outspoken letters in the British press, criticising the government of George I for misuse of public funds, abuse of patronage, meddling in the lives of citizens, and destroying the prosperity of the nation by military interventions. The letters, signed ‘Cato’ in reference to the vocal critic of Roman dictator Julius Caesar, were popular in Britain and also in America, where they were quoted by leading figures in the American independence movement.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Design. Governor. Low.
2 Encouragement. Market. No.
3 Much. Not. Trade.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Can. 2. Country. 3. Industry. 4. Free. 5. Found. 6. Set. 7. Folly. 8. Keep. 9. May.
Opposites Find in Think and Speak
Suggest words or phrases that seem opposite in meaning to each of the words below. We have suggested some possible answers; see if you can find any others.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1.
Care.
2.
Easy.
3.
Fearful.
4.
Fearless.
5.
Interested.
6.
Less.
7.
More.
8.
Nothing.
9.
Support.
Variations: 1.instead of opposites, suggest words of similar meaning (synonyms). 2.use a word and its opposite in the same sentence. 3.suggest any 5 opposites formed by adding im-.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
x
0
Add
Your Words ()
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