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For it is a maxim, that he who is allowed more Power by Law than is fit, (or equitable,) the same will still desire more Power than is already lawful:* so that no Power on earth is tolerable without a just limitation; and Law, which ought to be supreme, cannot subsist where Will and Pleasure are absolute, whether it be the Will of one, of a few, or of many.*
A King, therefore, who presumes to act without the constitutional limitation destroys the foundation of his own authority; for the most respectable and most ancient writer on the English Constitution assures us, that ‘there is no King where Will rules’ (or is absolute) ‘and not Law’. The same doctrine is expressed still more clearly in the old Year Books, that, ‘if there was no Law, there would be no King, and no inheritance.’
For these plain reasons, whenever the English Government ceases to be limited, in any part of the British Dominions,* it ceases to be lawful!
From A Declaration of the People's Natural Right to a Share in the Legislature (1775) by Granville Sharp (1735-1813).
* See Sharp’s contemporary, the Scottish philosopher Adam Smith, on Fit and Proper Persons.
* Anticipating that critics would say that it is not the King alone, but an elected Parliament, that is making laws for the American colonies, Sharp reminds us that dictatorship does not have to be invested in a single individual to be odious.
* This implied that not only the people of the thirteen North American colonies but the inhabitants of British possessions in the West Indies and even the people of India, who since 1757 had been effectually governed from London through the agency of the East India Company, should be given some kind of adequate Parliamentary representation.
Précis
It is human nature, Sharp went on, to try to grab ever more power unless there is some barrier to prevent it; and it is this barrier that the Constitution provides. A king, therefore, is no king according to our understanding of monarchy, if he governs without the express consent of the governed, wherever in the world they may be. (60 / 60 words)
It is human nature, Sharp went on, to try to grab ever more power unless there is some barrier to prevent it; and it is this barrier that the Constitution provides. A king, therefore, is no king according to our understanding of monarchy, if he governs without the express consent of the governed, wherever in the world they may be.
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: about, besides, despite, or, ought, since, until, 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 Appeal. More. Part.
2 Cease. Own. Pleasure.
3 Against. But. Not.
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 Desire. 2 Man. 3 Limit. 4 Power. 5 People. 6 Still. 7 Act. 8 Reason. 9 Attempt.
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.
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.
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.
ppls (7+1)
appeals. applause. apples. applies. peoples. populous. pupils.
appals.
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