Introduction
At sixteen, poor relation Richard Cobden accepted a menial job from his uncle, who let him know how great a favour it was. Resolutely, Cobden freed himself from family obligations, and by his late twenties he was a trusted broker at the London office of a Manchester textile mill. His next step up was a daring leap.
At twenty-seven his London brokerage business was netting him an income of twelve hundred pounds a year.* It seems at this time that Fort & Sons had a mill at Sabden, which on account of mismanagement on the part of superintendents had fallen into decay. The company was thinking of abandoning the property, and the matter was under actual discussion when in walked Cobden.
“Sell it to Cobden,” said one of the directors, smiling.
“For how much?” asked Cobden.
“A hundred thousand pounds,” was the answer.*
“I’ll take it,” said Cobden, “on twenty years’ time, with the privilege of paying for it sooner if I can.” Cobden had three valuable assets in his composition health, enthusiasm and right intent. Let a banker once feel that the man knows what he is doing, and is honest, and money is always forthcoming.
And so Cobden took possession of the mill at Sabden.*
* According to the Bank of England, goods and services costing £1,200 in 1831 would cost over £103,657 in 2024.
* The Bank of England estimates that £100,000 in 1831 would be equivalent in purchasing power to almost £8,640,000 in 2024.
* Sabden is a village northwest of Burnley in Lancashire. Cobden came originally from Sussex, where his father had been a farmer. See Character Counts!.
Précis
At twenty-seven, Richard Cobden, one of the great Victorian statesmen, was still a commercial traveller for a textile mill. One day, he stumbled into a conversation among the company’s board members about a near-derelict mill they owned. Jokingly, they offered it to Cobden, who surprised everyone by taking it — with twenty years to pay off the purchase price. (58 / 60 words)
At twenty-seven, Richard Cobden, one of the great Victorian statesmen, was still a commercial traveller for a textile mill. One day, he stumbled into a conversation among the company’s board members about a near-derelict mill they owned. Jokingly, they offered it to Cobden, who surprised everyone by taking it — with twenty years to pay off the purchase price.
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: although, because, besides, despite, if, just, may, must.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
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