Introduction
John Smeaton (1724-1792) was an English engineer who made advances in water and steam power, and engineered bridges, canals, harbours and land drainage schemes. Such was his reputation that Empress Catherine of Russia, who had a high regard for English know-how, dangled the lure of her glittering Court and immense treasury in the hope of landing him.
The Empress Catherine of Russia was exceedingly anxious to have his [Smeaton’s] services in the formation of great engineering works in her dominions,* and she commissioned the Princess Dackshaw* to offer him his own terms, if he would accede to her proposal. But his plans and his heart were bent upon the exercise of his skill in his own country, and he steadily refused all the offers made to him.*
It is reported that when the Princess found her attempts unavailing, she said to him, “Sir, you are a great man, and I honour you. You may have an equal in abilities,* perhaps, but in character you stand single. The English minister, Sir Robert Walpole, was mistaken; and my sovereign, to her loss, finds one who has not his price.”*
By
Charles Maybury Archer
fl. 1840-1870
From ‘The London Anecdotes’ Volume 2 (1848), edited by Charles Maybury Archer. Archer, of Haverstock Hill, Middlesex, was a paper-manufacturer, who contributed to the Morning Chronicle. Archer is relying on an account by Smeaton’s daughter Mary (Dixon) in ‘Reports of the late John Smeaton [...] in the Course of his Employment as a Civil Engineer’ Volume 1 (1812, 1837).
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.
Précis
In the 1770s, engineer John Smeaton was invited by Catherine the Great to work in Russia. He was invited to name any terms, but no amount of money could tempt him. Catherine’s envoy Princess Dashkova was gracious in defeat, exclaiming that whatever Robert Walpole may say, there were still some men who were not for sale at any price.
(59 / 60 words)
In the 1770s, engineer John Smeaton was invited by Catherine the Great to work in Russia. He was invited to name any terms, but no amount of money could tempt him. Catherine’s envoy Princess Dashkova was gracious in defeat, exclaiming that whatever Robert Walpole may say, there were still some men who were not for sale at any price.
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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, must, unless, until, whereas, whether.
Archive
Word Games
Suggest answers to this question. See
if you can limit one answer to exactly
seven words.
Variations:
1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words.
2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words.
3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
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.
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
Attempt.
May.
Say.
2
But.
Have.
Upon.
3
All.
Anxious.
Commission.
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.)
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.
tnr
(5+2)
See Words
tenor.
tenure.
tinier.
toner.
tuner.
teenier.
tonier.
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or ask for help with any of the
exercises on Clay Lane. Write to me at this address:
nicholas@claylane.uk
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