‘Why,’ said I, ‘how many children do you reckon to have at last?’
‘I do not care how many,’ said the man: ‘God never sends mouths without sending meat.’
‘Did you ever hear,’ said I, ‘of one Parson Malthus?’*
‘No, sir.’
‘Why, if he were to hear of your works, he would be outrageous;* for he wants an act of parliament to prevent poor people from marrying young, and from having such lots of children.’
‘Oh! the brute!’ exclaimed the wife; while the husband laughed, thinking that I was joking.
I asked the man whether he had ever had relief from the parish; and upon his answering in the negative, I took out my purse, took from it enough to bait* my horse at Horsham, and to clear my turnpikes* to Worth, whither I was going in order to stay awhile, and gave him all the rest.*
* The Revd Thomas Malthus (1766-1834) published an Essay on the Principle of Population in 1798, warning of global catastrophes such as famines and pandemics if economic restraints on the birth-rate and the consumption of natural resources were not immediately imposed by Government. Malthus did however expressly reject population control by contraception or abortion.
* Today, ‘outrageous’ means causing outrage; for feeling outrage we now prefer ‘outraged’.
* That is, feed.
* Cobbett was travelling on toll roads, and needed enough money for the fare. It was not the first time he had all but cleaned out his purse: see A Tale Worth All His Fortune.
* The young man was ‘doing pretty well’ but perhaps Cobbett was relieving his feelings by defying one of Malthus’s key demands, that Government drop income support for large families.
Précis
When Cobbett asked how many children the couple planned to have, the husband shrugged, and declared that God would provide. Roguishly, Cobbett warned that Thomas Malthus, the population expert, would be appalled by such disregard for Earth’s scarce resources; but neither husband nor wife had heard of him. Much pleased, Cobbett gave them some money for the children, and left. (60 / 60 words)
When Cobbett asked how many children the couple planned to have, the husband shrugged, and declared that God would provide. Roguishly, Cobbett warned that Thomas Malthus, the population expert, would be appalled by such disregard for Earth’s scarce resources; but neither husband nor wife had heard of him. Much pleased, Cobbett gave them some money for the children, and left.
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: if, just, may, otherwise, since, whereas, whether, who.
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 Chief. Into. Without.
2 Ask. Prevent. Teach.
3 He. Much. Turning.
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.)
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
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.
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 in-.
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.
stts (6+5)
estates. settees. states. statues. status. stouts.
satiates. setts. situates. stats. stoats.
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