AND certainly if the business of a Foreign Secretary properly were to carry on such diplomatic wars, all must admit that the noble Lord is a master in the discharge of his functions. What, Sir, ought a Foreign Secretary to be? Is he to be like some gallant knight at a tournament of old, pricking forth into the lists, armed at all points, confiding in his sinews and his skill, challenging all comers for the sake of honour, and having no other duty than to lay as many as possible of his adversaries sprawling in the dust? If such is the idea of a good Foreign Secretary, I for one would vote to the noble Lord his present appointment for his life. But, Sir, I do not understand the duty of a Secretary for Foreign Affairs to be of such a character. I understand it to be his duty to conciliate* peace with dignity.*
Abridged
* Gladstone used ‘conciliate’ in an old-fashioned sense, meaning ‘gain e.g. popularity, esteem or goodwill by pleasing acts’. That is, the Foreign Secretary’s job is to win peace for the country without behaving dishonourably.
* Gladstone was supported in his criticism by some heavyweights, including Benjamin Disraeli and Richard Cobden. “To govern such a people as this,” said Palmerston with artful tolerance, “is indeed an object worthy of the ambition of the noblest man who lives in the land; and therefore I find no fault with those who may think any opportunity a fair one, for endeavouring to place themselves in so distinguished and honourable a position.” But Cobden at any rate was acting out of principle rather than ambition. He was steadfastly opposed to military interventions abroad all his life, and had warned against this kind of thinking since the 1830s. See A Passion for Meddling.
Précis
Gladstone went on to say that if the role of the Foreign Secretary consisted in chivalrously vanquishing other nations, as if he were a mediaeval knight at a joust, then Palmerston was the ideal candidate; but he himself thought the post should be about defusing tensions without compromising principle, and to that his lordship was clearly unsuited. (57 / 60 words)
Gladstone went on to say that if the role of the Foreign Secretary consisted in chivalrously vanquishing other nations, as if he were a mediaeval knight at a joust, then Palmerston was the ideal candidate; but he himself thought the post should be about defusing tensions without compromising principle, and to that his lordship was clearly unsuited.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: despite, must, or, otherwise, ought, since, unless, until.
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Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
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.
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 Down. Uplift. Upon.
2 Honor. Knight. Rest.
3 Relation. Stand. Viscount.
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.)
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Life. 2. Rest. 3. Ground. 4. Skill. 5. Master. 6. Lie. 7. Platform. 8. List. 9. Arm.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
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?
Your Words ()
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