Introduction
After John Bright MP criticised British imperial policy in India, saying it was too much about the glories of empire and too little about the condition of the people, a Calcutta newspaper scolded him and reminded him solemnly of the greatness of Rome. But Bright was unrepentant, and speaking to his constituents in Birmingham on October 29th, 1858, he brought his lesson closer to home.
I BELIEVE there is no permanent greatness to a nation except it be based upon morality. I do not care for military greatness or military renown. I care for the condition of the people among whom I live.
There is no man in England who is less likely to speak irreverently of the crown and monarchy of England than I am, but crowns, coronets,* mitres, military display, the pomp of war, wide colonies, and a huge empire are in my view all trifles, light as air and not worth considering, unless with them you can have a fair share of comfort, contentment, and happiness among the great body of the people.
Palaces, baronial castles, great halls, stately mansions, do not make a nation. The nation in every country dwells in the cottage, and unless the light of your constitution can shine there, unless the beauty of your legislation and the excellence of your statesmanship are impressed there, on the feelings and condition of the people, rely upon it, you have yet to learn the duties of government.*
* Compare Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809–1892) in Lady Clara Vere de Vere:
Trust me, Clara Vere de Vere,
From yon blue heavens above us bent,
The gardener Adam and his wife
Smile at the claims of long descent.
Howe’er it be, it seems to me,
’Tis only noble to be good.
Kind hearts are more than coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood.
* Bright was making the same point as that made by US President John Adams (in office 1797-1801) sixty years earlier, in a speech to officers of a Massachusetts militia brigade. See A Moral and Religious People.
Précis
Victorian MP John Bright told his Birmingham constituents that he cared little for the trappings of empire and Britain’s place on the world stage. True national greatness, he said, was measured not by civic buildings or wide realms but by the contentment of the people, and any statesman who did not understand this had a poor grasp of his calling. (60 / 60 words)
Victorian MP John Bright told his Birmingham constituents that he cared little for the trappings of empire and Britain’s place on the world stage. True national greatness, he said, was measured not by civic buildings or wide realms but by the contentment of the people, and any statesman who did not understand this had a poor grasp of his calling.
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: because, besides, may, must, otherwise, ought, whereas, whether.
About the Author
John Bright (1811-1889) was a Victorian statesman who with his close friend Richard Cobden led the campaign to repeal the Corn Laws (1846) and make the UK into a nation committed to international free trade. Born in Rochdale, Bright was employed in his father’s mill making carpets until, two years after the death of his young wife Elizabeth, he entered the Commons as MP for Durham. Later he represented Birmingham, and served in William Gladstone’s cabinet as President of the Board of Trade (1868-1871) and as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1873-1874, 1880-1882). He campaigned vigorously against foreign military interventions (including the Crimean War) and slavery, and in favour of Indian independence and religious liberty. He married Margaret Leatham in 1847.
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 Believe. Colony. Irreverent.
2 Air. Constitution. Permanent.
3 Do. Man. Unless.
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.)
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
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. Live. 2. Light. 3. Man. 4. Mine. 5. Base. 6. Country. 7. Can. 8. Fair.
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?
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