Introduction
Charles James Fox (1749-1806) was a larger-than-life statesman in the time of King George III. He supported the revolutionaries of France and America, frequently changed political sides, kept a mistress (whom he secretly married in 1795), gambled to excess, and campaigned against slavery – a maddening blend of rascal and man of honour.
IT was truly said of Sheridan* — who, with all his improvidence, was generous, and never gave pain — that,
“His wit in the combat, as gentle as bright,
Never carried a heart-stain away on its blade.”
Such also was the character of Fox, who could always be most easily touched on the side of his honour.
The story is told of a tradesman calling upon him one day for the payment of a promissory note which he presented. Fox was engaged at the time in counting out gold. The tradesman asked to be paid from the money before him. “No,” said Fox, “I owe this money to Sheridan; it is a debt of honour; if any accident happened to me, he would have nothing to show.”*
“Then,” said the tradesman, “I change my debt into one of honour;” and he tore up the note. Fox was conquered: he thanked the man for his confidence, and paid him, saying, “Then Sheridan must wait; yours is the debt of older standing.”
Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) was an Irish playwright, theatrical manager, and Secretary of the Treasury in the government of William Cavendish Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland. Bentinck was however running the country in name only; the real power lay with Home Secretary Lord North and Foreign Secretary Charles Fox.
That is, there was nothing down in writing about this debt — a gambling debt, we are invited to assume — so that if Fox were to die suddenly Sheridan could not make a claim for the money against Fox’s estate. Settling up was therefore a matter not of law but of conscience.
Précis
Charles James Fox, the eminent 18th-century statesman, once refused to pay a tradesman because he needed all his cash to pay off a gambling debt to Richard Sheridan. The tradesman unexpectedly tore up his bill, making his own claim, like Sheridan’s, a matter of honour rather than law. Fox took the point, and settled the invoice at once. (58 / 60 words)
Charles James Fox, the eminent 18th-century statesman, once refused to pay a tradesman because he needed all his cash to pay off a gambling debt to Richard Sheridan. The tradesman unexpectedly tore up his bill, making his own claim, like Sheridan’s, a matter of honour rather than law. Fox took the point, and settled the invoice at once.
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, despite, must, not, ought, since, who.
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Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
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.
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 Ask. Fox. Into.
2 Also. Blade. Out.
3 Before. Pain. Touch.
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.)
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.
ppr (5+1)
appear. paper. pauper. piper. upper.
peeper.
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