Introduction
The Industrial Revolution increased social mobility beyond all measure. Some shook their heads, but for most people, from ordinary working men to aristocratic statesmen, it was a matter of celebration and pride.
WHEN the late Joseph Brotherton,* member for Salford, in the course of the discussion on the Ten Hours Bill,** detailed with true pathos the hardships and fatigues to which he had been subjected when working as a factory boy in a cotton mill, and described the resolution which he had then formed, that if ever it was in his power he would endeavour to ameliorate the condition of that class, Sir James Graham rose immediately after him,*** and declared, amidst the cheers of the House, that he did not before know that Mr. Brotherton’s origin had been so humble, but that it rendered him more proud than he had ever before been of the House of Commons, to think that a person risen from that condition should be able to sit side by side, on equal terms, with the hereditary gentry of the land.
Joseph Brotherton MP (1783-1857) was an active campaigner against both slavery and the death penalty. His father, originally a tax collector from Derbyshire, took a chance and opened a cotton mill in Manchester, unsentimentally putting his boy to work alongside the rest of the workforce from the age of fifteen. For more information, see the website dedicated to him at Joseph Brotherton M.P. (‘Mr Salford’). Joseph’s wife Martha published the first vegetarian cookery book in 1812.
The Ten Hours Act of 1847, which was however poorly drafted and had to be renewed in 1874, was designed to ensure that industrial and agricultural employers did not overwork their employees.
Sir James Graham MP (1792-1861) was a baronet and a Cabinet minister in the government of Robert Peel. Born in Cumberland, his mother was the daughter of the Earl of Galloway. He was a radical Liberal, vigorously opposed to the Corn Laws and committed to free markets.
Précis
During a debate in the House of Commons, Joseph Brotherton described from personal experience the hardships of a young boy working in the Manchester Cotton mills. Sir James Graham, from a much more elevated social background, was so moved by this proof of Victorian social mobility that he declared he had never been more proud of the British Parliament. (59 / 60 words)
During a debate in the House of Commons, Joseph Brotherton described from personal experience the hardships of a young boy working in the Manchester Cotton mills. Sir James Graham, from a much more elevated social background, was so moved by this proof of Victorian social mobility that he declared he had never been more proud of the British Parliament.
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, despite, if, may, or, otherwise, ought, whereas.
Archive
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.
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 Common. Declare. Equal.
2 Ever. Form. Render.
3 Amid. Class. Then.
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.)
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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