‘A Merchant’s Office’, by Thomas Rowlandson (1756–1827) and dated 1789. Trenchard believed that under heavy-handed and meddlesome governments trade suffers. As he explained in another letter, a dispirited public comes to expect that the rewards of their hard work will be lost in taxes and the high cost of living; investors lend only sparingly and at high rates; business-owners dare not employ more workers, or grow businesses; ill-conceived trade treaties distort markets; constant wars drain the economy and take young men from trade to die in causes that have nothing to do with the defence of the realm. In a free country, citizens are left to do what they do best, enjoying the steady protection of the law rather than abiding its caprices and its censure.
To make such Protection practicable, Magistracy was formed,* with Power to defend the Innocent from Violence, and to punish those that offered it; nor can there be any other Pretence for Magistracy in the World. In order to this good End, the Magistrate is intrusted with conducting and applying the united Force of the Community; and with exacting such a Share of every Man’s Property, as is necessary to preserve the Whole, and to defend every Man and his Property from foreign and domestick Injuries.
These are Boundaries of the Power of the Magistrate, who deserts his Function whenever he breaks them. By the Laws of Society, he is more limited and restrained than any Man amongst them; since, while they are absolutely free in all their Actions, which purely concern themselves; all his Actions, as a publick Person, being for the Sake of the Society, must refer to it, and answer the Ends of it.
Original spelling
From (preserving the original spelling) ‘Cato’s Letters’ Vol. II (1723) by John Trenchard MP (1662-1723) and Thomas Gordon (?-1750).
* ‘Magistrate’ was a term in Roman law for anyone with judicial or governmental functions, from minor judges to the highest lawmakers. In this passage, Trenchard uses the word in this broad sense. The word has since come to be restricted to minor judicial officers, for example by the Metropolitan Police Courts Act 1839.
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
Lawmakers, said Trenchard, should remember that society has established them in order to protect the rights of citizens. Far from being able to do as they please, Government officials have to exercise more restraint than any ordinary citizen, in order to ensure that they never overstep the bounds of the authority that society has given them. (56 / 60 words)
Lawmakers, said Trenchard, should remember that society has established them in order to protect the rights of citizens. Far from being able to do as they please, Government officials have to exercise more restraint than any ordinary citizen, in order to ensure that they never overstep the bounds of the authority that society has given them.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, because, if, may, ought, since, 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 Liberty. Limit. Share.
2 Concern. Divest. Equity.
3 Action. Character. Necessary.
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.)
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Function. 2 Can. 3 Limit. 4 End. 5 Purpose. 6 Offer. 7 People. 8 Hurt. 9 Power.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1.
Know.
No.
2.
Use.
Yews.
Ewes.
3.
Him.
Hymn.
4.
Hole.
Whole.
5.
But.
Butt.
6.
Manner.
Manor.
Manna.
7.
Wile.
While.
8.
Sole.
Soul.
Seoul.
9.
Holy.
Wholly.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
brch (5+1)
birch. breach. breech. broach. brooch.
brioche.
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