These standards of British measures of length are fixed to the Shepherd’s Gate clock at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. Each distance is measured between the flattened inner sides of the two D-shaped studs. A metre gauge of similar design is to be found on the left hand side of the entrance of the Ministry of Justice in Paris: see a picture at Wikimedia Commons but as Napoleon predicted, the authorities did indeed “find it necessary to make some corrections” to their new system of measurements. The metre defined in 1795 was redefined in 1799, 1889, 1927, 1960 and 1983. Since 1983, the metre has been the length of the path travelled by light in a vacuum in [fraction:1|299,792,458] seconds.
Introduction
Napoleon Bonaparte’s frustration at the way that metres and kilos were forced on the people of France following the Revolution of 1789 has often been quoted with grim amusement by those who lament the passing of yards and ounces. And yet the lesson he was teaching us has rarely been taken to heart, either by his critics or his admirers, though it applies in so many areas of our common life.
THE weights and measures were one of the principal affairs of the Directory.* Instead of leaving time to work the change, and merely encouraging the new system by all the power of example and fashion, they made compulsory laws, and had them rigorously executed.
Merchants and citizens found themselves harassed about matters which were in themselves indifferent; and this increased the unpopularity of a government which placed itself above the wants and the reach of the people, infringing their usages, habits, and customs with all the violence that might have been expected from a Greek or Tartar conqueror, who, with the staff in his hand, insists upon obedience to all his commands, which are dictated only by his own prejudices and interests, to the total exclusion of those of the vanquished.
The new system of weights and measures will be a subject of embarrassment and difficulties for several generations; and it is probable that the first learned commission employed to verify the measure of the meridian will find it necessary to make some corrections. Thus are nations tormented about trifles!
From ‘Memoirs of the history of France during the reign of Napoleon’ Volume 4 (1824), by Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821), dictated at St Helena and personally emended by Napoleon.
* The Directory (le Directoire) was a committee of five that ruled France from November 2nd, 1795, until November 9th, 1799. It was this committee that was overthrown by Napoleon in his bloodless Coup of 18 Brumaire, Year VIII (November 9th, 1799). Napoleon assumed the title of First Consul of France, and was crowned Emperor of the French on December 2nd, 1804, having assumed the title the previous May. Thanks to Napoleon’s breathtaking conquests right across Europe, since May 1803 Britain and France had been at war.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
Reviewing recent French history during his confinement on St Helena, former French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte singled out the Revolutionary government’s handling of their new system of weights and measures for criticism. The usefulness of metric measurements would have won the public over in time, he said, had politicians not undermined public trust by using all the force of law. (59 / 60 words)
Reviewing recent French history during his confinement on St Helena, former French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte singled out the Revolutionary government’s handling of their new system of weights and measures for criticism. The usefulness of metric measurements would have won the public over in time, he said, had politicians not undermined public trust by using all the force of law.
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, may, must, since, unless, whereas, whether.
Archive
Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
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.
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 Employ. Found. Work.
2 Commission. Time. Want.
3 Conqueror. Hand. Insist.
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.)
Opposites Find in Think and Speak
Suggest words or phrases that seem opposite in meaning to each of the words below. We have suggested some possible answers; see if you can find any others.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1.
Encourage.
2.
Find.
3.
Hand.
4.
Increase.
5.
Learn.
6.
Necessary.
7.
New.
8.
Powerful.
9.
Work.
Variations: 1.instead of opposites, suggest words of similar meaning (synonyms). 2.use a word and its opposite in the same sentence. 3.suggest any 5 opposites formed by adding im-.
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.
lnr (6)
leaner. linear. liner. loner. loonier. lunar.
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