Introduction
By the 1720s, there were already rumblings of discontent coming from England’s American colonies, but John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon warned against strictness from London. When government of a distant or culturally different people falls to your lot, the only way to keep them on side is to give them a mutually satisfactory degree of freedom and self-determination.
MEN will think it hard to work, toil, and run Hazards, for the Advantage of others any longer than they find their own interest in it, and especially for those who use them ill: All Nature points out that Course: No Creature sucks the Teats of their Dams longer than they they can draw Milk from thence, or can provide themselves with better Food: Nor will any Country continue their Subjection to another, only because their Great-Grandmothers were acquainted.
This is the Course of Humane Affairs;* and all wise States will always have it before their Eyes; and will well consider therefore how to preserve the Advantages arising from Colonies, and avoid the Evils. And I conceive there can be but two Ways in Nature to hinder them from throwing off their Dependence: The one to keep it out of their Power, and the other out of their Will. The first must be by Force; and the latter by using them well, and keeping them employ’d in such Productions, and making such Manufactures, as will support themselves and Families comfortably, and get Wealth too, or at least not prejudice their Mother-Country.
Original spelling
* That is, human affairs. In the eighteenth century ‘humane’ was still used interchangeably with ‘human’ in regard to meaning. As the century progressed, ‘humane’ became restricted to the sense of ‘kindly, compassionate’.
Précis
The authors of the Cato Letters, writing in the early 1720s, warned that no creature remains wholly dependent on its mother after it is weaned. Likewise, any attempt prevent Britain’s colonies from learning to fend for themselves would be disastrous. The best way to keep the colonies in the family was to treat them well, and support their economic growth. (60 / 60 words)
The authors of the Cato Letters, writing in the early 1720s, warned that no creature remains wholly dependent on its mother after it is weaned. Likewise, any attempt prevent Britain’s colonies from learning to fend for themselves would be disastrous. The best way to keep the colonies in the family was to treat them well, and support their economic growth.
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, if, just, must, ought, since, who.
About the Authors
John Trenchard (1662-1723) was a barrister and MP for Taunton, remembered today for his partnership with his secretary Thomas Gordon (?-1750). In 1720-23, the two men published a series of outspoken letters in the British press, criticising the government of George I for misuse of public funds, abuse of patronage, meddling in the lives of citizens, and destroying the prosperity of the nation by military interventions. The letters, signed ‘Cato’ in reference to the vocal critic of Roman dictator Julius Caesar, were popular in Britain and also in America, where they were quoted by leading figures in the American independence movement.
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 Better. Therefore. Wealth.
2 All. Man. Wise.
3 Making. Mother. Use.
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.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
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. Can. 2. Man. 3. Point. 4. Country. 5. Draw. 6. Keep. 7. Long. 8. Own. 9. Well.
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.
brn (10)
auburn. bairn. barn. baron. born. borne. brain. bran. brine. burn.
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