Introduction
In 1854, Guiseppi Garibaldi found himself an outcast across Europe for his campaign to unite Italy’s small states (some under foreign control) in a single country. He found friends in the US and on his return, his ship called into Newcastle-upon-Tyne for coal. Joseph Cowen Jr came aboard to present him with a ceremonial sword inscribed ‘To General Garibaldi, by the people of Tyneside, friends of European freedom’.
Ship ‘Commonwealth’, Tynemouth, April 12, 1854.
My dear Cowen, — The generous manifestation of sympathy with which I have been honoured by you and your fellow-citizens is of itself more than sufficient to recompense a life were it even of great merit. Born and educated, as I have been, in the cause of humanity, my heart is entirely devoted to liberty — universal liberty, national and world-wide — ora e sempre.* England is a great and powerful nation, independent of auxiliary aid, foremost in human progress, enemy to despotism, the only safe refuge for the exile in Europe, friend of the oppressed;* but if ever England, your native country, should be so circumstanced as to require the help of an ally, cursed be that Italian who would not step forward with me in her defence. Your Government has given the autocrat a check and the Austrian a lesson. The despots of Europe are against it in consequence. Should England at any time in a just cause need my arm, I am ready to unsheathe in her defence the noble and splendid sword received at your hands. Be the interpreter of my gratitude to your good and generous countrymen. I regret, deeply regret, to leave without again grasping hands with you. Farewell, my dear friend, but not adieu! Keep room for me in your heart.
Yours always and everywhere, G. Garibaldi.
Jos. Cowen, jun., Blaydon Burn.
P.S. — At Rio de la Plata I fought in favour of the English against the tyrant Rosas.*
From a supplement to ‘The Autobiography of Guiseppi Garibaldi’ Volume 3 (1889), by Guiseppi Garibaldi (1807-1882). The Supplement was written by Jessie White Mario (1832-1906), who was a nurse to Garibaldi's soldiers in four wars and worked alongside Guiseppi Mazzini.
* Italian for ‘now and always’. The phrase was taken up again in 1952 by those who thought post-war Italy was going soft in fascism.
* This was praise that was not altogether deserved. Garibaldi had been shown the door all over Europe, and was particularly hurt when, a few years before his arrival on Tyneside, his asylum on Gibraltar, a British possession, had been cut short by the authorities. “The English governor of the place gave me six days in which to leave it” he wrote. “The affection and just gratitude which I have always felt towards that generous nation, made this proceeding seem all the more discourteous, futile, and unworthy.”
* Joseph Cowen Jr (1829-1900) was the son of industrialist Joseph Cowen (1800-1873), and joined him in his successful business making fire bricks. From 1850, they shared Stella Hall in Blaydon. Among an international roll-call of radical friends, young Joseph numbered Garibaldi’s colleagues Guiseppi Mazzini and Felice Orsini, and Hungarian statesman and revolutionary leader Lajos Kossuth. Cowen strongly identified with the miners of the Northumberland coalfields. He did nothing to temper his strong Tyneside accent, dressed even in Parliament (he was MP for Newcastle in 1874-1886) as the miners did, and campaigned on their behalf for welfare reform and for better housing and access to education. He wrote several articles for the Jewish Chronicle supporting British Jews.
* Juan Manuel José Domingo Ortiz de Rozas y López de Osornio (1793-1877) was an Argentine politician and army officer who ruled Buenos Aires Province and, briefly, the Argentine Confederation. His domestic policy was totalitarian in character, and his foreign policy expansionist. His attempts to annex Uruguay and Paraguay drew France and Britain into opposition, although it was Brazil that overthrew him in the Platine War of August 1851 to February 1852. Oddly enough, Rosas had found refuge in Britain, and was living here in obscurity even as Garibaldi wrote this. Rosas died at Southampton in 1877.
Précis
In 1854, Italian revolutionary leader Guiseppi Garibaldi stopped over in Newcastle, and was presented with a sword by Joseph Cowen on behalf of the Tyneside public. Garibaldi wrote to Cowen afterwards, thanking him for the sword, praising the English for their support of liberty, and promising that Italy would repay her debt should Britain ever need it. (57 / 60 words)
In 1854, Italian revolutionary leader Guiseppi Garibaldi stopped over in Newcastle, and was presented with a sword by Joseph Cowen on behalf of the Tyneside public. Garibaldi wrote to Cowen afterwards, thanking him for the sword, praising the English for their support of liberty, and promising that Italy would repay her debt should Britain ever need it.
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, if, may, must, or, ought, until, who.
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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.
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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.
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