Introduction
From the moment Robert Walpole was appointed First Lord of the Treasury in 1722, he was accused of toadying to the narrow interests of the Court, and ignoring the broader interests of the Country at large. By February 1741 the clamour for his resignation was getting noisy, but Walpole reminded the Commons that those who talk about ‘the good of the country‘ aren’t always thinking about it.
GENTLEMEN have talked a great deal of patriotism. A venerable word, when duly practised.* But I am sorry to say that of late it has been so much hackneyed about that it is in danger of falling into disgrace. The very idea of true patriotism is lost, and the term has been prostituted to the very worst of purposes. A patriot, sir! Why, patriots spring up like mushrooms! I could raise fifty of them within the four-and-twenty hours. I have raised many of them in one night. It is but refusing to gratify an unreasonable or an insolent demand, and up starts a patriot. I have never been afraid of making patriots; but I disdain and despise all their efforts. This pretended virtue proceeds from personal malice and disappointed ambition. There is not a man among them whose particular aim I am not able to ascertain, and from what motive they have entered into the lists of opposition.*
* See posts tagged Patriotism (5).
* Walpole’s target here was the self-described Country Party, not a formal party beside the Tories and Whigs but an informal cross-bench alliance of MPs vigorously opposed to what they regarded as a Court Party of narrow and privileged interests; they considered themselves ‘patriots’ for caring more about the rural economy of Britain than for the glittering society of the City and George II’s court. Walpole was all scepticism, and thought they had wrapped themselves in a flag of convenience. Their leading spokesman was Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke, who had been gunning for Walpole for thirty years. On this occasion, the motion was defeated and Walpole survived, though he resigned early the following year.
* ‘Enter into the lists’ is a phrase drawn from jousting: ‘the lists’ referred to the palisades enclosing an area for a tournament (from Old English liste, a border). To enter the lists is to ride like a knight into a place of contest, especially as the gallant champion of another.
Précis
In 1741, Robert Walpole was fighting for his political life against self-styled ‘patriots’ who opposed his government. He took the fight to them in the Commons, complaining that ‘patriotism’ was a much-abused word, taken upon the lips of men driven by ambition and disappointed hopes, and warning that in every case he knew just what those ambitions and disappointments were. (60 / 60 words)
In 1741, Robert Walpole was fighting for his political life against self-styled ‘patriots’ who opposed his government. He took the fight to them in the Commons, complaining that ‘patriotism’ was a much-abused word, taken upon the lips of men driven by ambition and disappointed hopes, and warning that in every case he knew just what those ambitions and disappointments were.
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, although, besides, despite, may, ought, whereas, whether.
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 Bad. Hackney. Have.
2 Many. Motive. Talk.
3 Could. Like. Man.
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 Start. 2 List. 3 Demand. 4 Purpose. 5 Man. 6 Fall. 7 Term. 8 Refuse. 9 Talk.
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.
Statements, Questions and Commands Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in a sentence. Try to include at least one statement, one question and one command among your sentences. Note that some verbs make awkward or meaningless words of command, e.g. need, happen.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Make. 2 List. 3 Talk. 4 Enter. 5 Man. 6 Deal. 7 Spring. 8 Start. 9 Disappoint.
Variations: 1. use a minimum of seven words for each sentence 2. include negatives, e.g. isn’t, don’t, never 3. use the words ‘must’ to make commands 4. compose a short dialogue containing all three kinds of sentence: one statement, one question and one command
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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