Introduction
In the opinion of Richard Cobden, the Rochdale MP, Emperor Nicholas I of Russia wasn’t a proper Russian. In his fondness for meddling in the affairs of other European countries he resembled the colonially-minded politicians of the West more than his fellow Russians, for whom the thought of being conscripted for military adventures beyond Holy Russia was abhorrent.
THERE is nothing in reference to which there is so almost universal a misapprehension as exists with regard to the character of the great mass of the Russian people. In the first place, we have them represented to us as a collection of barbarous and discontented hordes, who are anxious to quit their country, and to pour, like an avalanche, on Western Europe. There is no greater delusion in the world than the supposition that the population of Russia have any desire to leave their native land. There is not a people in the world who are prouder of their country than are the Russians of theirs.* There is not a people in the world who are less disposed to cross their frontiers to commit an act of depredation or spoliation, much less who would leave their country to become permanent settlers in another land. I speak now of the national character.
Nor are the Russians a warlike people.
* The average Russian, wrote Cobden six years later in What Next — and Next? (1856), “is wedded to his village home, and Russia has been described as a great village. Nay more, this people, whom Western Europe regards with terror as a horde of imprisoned barbarians, dissatisfied with their fate, and eager to escape from their rigorous climate and ungrateful soil, to pour the tide of conquest over more favoured and civilized regions, are, beyond any others, proud of their own country: they love its winter as well as summer life, and would not willingly exchange it for any other land.”
Précis
In 1850, English statesman Richard Cobden told a meeting of the Peace Society in London that Russians were not the belligerent nation that rumour made them. Those who wanted the British public to fear an invasion of Europe had picked the worst country for their fairytale, as there was no people in Europe less likely to want to leave home. (60 / 60 words)
In 1850, English statesman Richard Cobden told a meeting of the Peace Society in London that Russians were not the belligerent nation that rumour made them. Those who wanted the British public to fear an invasion of Europe had picked the worst country for their fairytale, as there was no people in Europe less likely to want to leave home.
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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: although, besides, may, must, or, otherwise, ought, whether.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
In Cobden’s opinion, how had the majority of people in Western Europe misunderstood the average Russian?
Suggestion
They assumed he coveted Western European lands. (7 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.