By John Theodore Heins (1697-1756), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain. Source
‘Allegory of Trade’ by John Theodore Heins (1697-1756).
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‘Allegory of Trade’ by John Theodore Heins (1697-1756). Born in Germany, Heins emigrated to Britain in 1720, the year that ‘Cato’ began publishing his letters. At this time, Britain led the way in maritime trade and social mobility, and the task should have been to invite others to join in this happy state of affairs. But too many politicians believed that our share would thereby diminish: see David Hume on The Jealousy of Trade, and Thorold Rogers on Free Trade is Fair Trade. Some will think Cato’s rebuke too harsh; but as the West is still using sanctions, regime change and arms sales to force Dame Trade to work in our exclusive interest three centuries later, he might think the rebuke not harsh enough. See also The Lion’s Share.
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‘Allegory of Trade’ by John Theodore Heins (1697-1756).
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By John Theodore Heins (1697-1756), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.
‘Allegory of Trade’ by John Theodore Heins (1697-1756). Born in Germany, Heins emigrated to Britain in 1720, the year that ‘Cato’ began publishing his letters. At this time, Britain led the way in maritime trade and social mobility, and the task should have been to invite others to join in this happy state of affairs. But too many politicians believed that our share would thereby diminish: see David Hume on The Jealousy of Trade, and Thorold Rogers on Free Trade is Fair Trade. Some will think Cato’s rebuke too harsh; but as the West is still using sanctions, regime change and arms sales to force Dame Trade to work in our exclusive interest three centuries later, he might think the rebuke not harsh enough. See also The Lion’s Share.
NOW it is absolutely impossible, from the Nature of an Arbitrary Government,* that she should enjoy Security and Protection, or indeed be free from Violence, under it. There is not one Man in a Thousand that has the Endowments and Abilities necessary to govern a State, and much fewer yet that have just Notions how to make Trade and Commerce useful and advantageous to it; and amongst these, ’tis rare to find one who will forgo all personal Advantages, and devote himself and his Labours wholly to his Country’s Interest: But if such a Phoenix* should arise in any Country, he will find it hard to get Access to an Arbitrary Court, and much harder yet to grapple with and stem the reigning Corruptions in it, where Virtue has nothing to do, and Vice rides triumphant; where Bribery, servile Flattery, blind Submission, riotous Expense, and very often Lust and unnatural Prostitutions, are the Ladders to Greatness; which will certainly be supported by the same Methods by which it is obtained.
ByJohn Trenchard1662-1723AndThomas Gibson?-1750
Original spelling
From (preserving the original spelling) ‘Cato’s Letters’ Vol. II (1723) by John Trenchard MP (1662-1723) and Thomas Gordon (?-1750).
* Arbitrary government is a government where those in authority — whether a king, a president or a council of ministers — are allowed to act as they please because constitutional restraints are weak or dormant. By comparison with (say) Louis XV (r. 1715-1774) in France or Peter the Great (r. 1682-1725) in Russia, Great Britain’s George I (r. 1714-1727) and his prime minister Sir Robert Walpole (in office 1721-42) were under considerable constitutional restraint, but evidently not enough for Trenchard.
* A fantastical bird, said to be reborn to new life in a blaze of fire. Trenchard is emphasising that honest politicians are rare to the point of being both spectacular and also legendary.
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
‘Cato’ went on to lament the culture of corruption prevailing in government circles, which would never permit reform. Where ministers have too much power, they favour the careers of men who share their own vices; and long before he reached the top of the ladder, any man whose integrity set him apart would have become like all the rest.(59 / 60 words)
‘Cato’ went on to lament the culture of corruption prevailing in government circles, which would never permit reform. Where ministers have too much power, they favour the careers of men who share their own vices; and long before he reached the top of the ladder, any man whose integrity set him apart would have become like all the rest.
Edit | Reset
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: may, not, or, otherwise, ought, since, whereas, whether.
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.
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.
1Govern.How.Than.
2Blockhead.Grace.Pleasure.
3Expense.Fruit.Personal.
Variations:1.include direct and indirect speech2.include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who3.use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
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.
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.
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Variations:1.use a minimum of seven words for each sentence2.include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never3.use the words ‘must’ to make commands4.compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
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?
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