Desperate Measures, by Sir Philip Francis

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Sir, I am bold to say that I have learned my constitutional principles from some of the greatest men that have lived in England in my time, and shall not readily abandon them in favour of new ones. If I were forced to an option, I would rather it should be said that the King possessed this power of bringing in foreign troops in peace than in war. Why? Because if such a thing were attempted in time of peace, it would appear at once so alarming and so exorbitant that every man would oppose the exercise of it. The precedent could not be established, or it could not be materially injurious.

Not so when foreign war and fictitious alarms furnish pretences for calling in a foreign force, and create a disposition to receive it. Then indeed the danger is serious. The provision that is made for your defence may be instantly turned to your destruction.

by Sir Philip Francis 1740-1818

abridged

Abridged from a speech in the House of Commons on February 10th, 1794, as given in ‘Jordan’s Parliamentary Journal for the Year MDCCXCIII: Being an Accurate and Impartial History of the Dabates and Proceedings of Both Houses of Parliament’ Volume 1 (1794).

Précis

Francis asked the House to consider what the public response in peacetime would be to the measures the Government waved through in time of war. In wars and other panics (which are so easily manufactured) laws are too often passed in the name of protecting the public which in another context could be used to oppress them.

Questions for Critics

1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?

2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his 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.

Jigsaws

Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.

Governments pass laws in time of war. Some of them the public would not tolerate in time of peace.

See if you can include one or more of these words in your answer.

IAllow. IICrisis. IIIExcuse.

Précis

Questions for Critics

Jigsaws

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