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, because, besides, may, not, until, whereas, whether.
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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 Lose. Raise. Say.
2 Duly. Effort. Into.
3 Deal. Many. Much.
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.)
Adjectives Find in Think and Speak
For each word below, compose sentences to show that it may be used as an adjective. Adjectives provide extra information about a noun, e.g. a black cat, a round table, the early bird etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Great. 2 Afraid. 3 Disgraced. 4 Gentlemanly. 5 Able. 6 Late. 7 Worst. 8 Sorry. 9 True.
Variations: 1.show whether your adjective can also be used as e.g. a noun, verb or adverb. 2.show whether your adjective can be used in comparisons (e.g. good/better/best). 3.show whether your adjective can be used in attributive position (e.g. a dangerous corner) and also in predicate position (this corner is dangerous).
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Refuse. 2. Like. 3. Man. 4. Start. 5. Spring.
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 ()
