‘A Cottage with Sunflowers at Peaslake’, by English artist Helen Allingham (1848-1926). Peaslake lies about five miles east-southeast of Guildford in Surrey. For John Bright, the greatness of a country lay not in civic splendour or global influence but in securing the contentment of the humblest cottager. This emphasis on domestic felicity rather than the glories of the State was in his eyes a peculiarly Christian morality. When a Calcutta journalist urged him to remember the glories of Rome, “What is Rome now?” cried Bright. “The great city is dead. A poet has described her as ‘the lone mother of dead empires.’ Her language even is dead. [...] Yet I am asked, I, who am one of the legislators of a Christian country, to measure my policy by the policy of ancient and pagan Rome!”
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.*
From ‘Public Addresses’ by John Bright (1811-1889). The speech was delivered on October 29th, 1858, in Birmingham.
* 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.
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
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: about, although, because, besides, if, just, otherwise, unless.
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 Condition. Have. Permanent.
2 Cottage. Do. There.
3 Empire. Person. Worth.
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.
1.
Among.
Between.
2.
Big.
Great.
3.
Broad.
Wide.
4.
Comfort.
Console.
5.
Each.
All.
6.
Learn.
Teach.
7.
Light.
Alight.
8.
Militant.
Military.
9.
Unworthy.
Worthless.
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.
Care.
2.
Comfort.
3.
Fair.
4.
Great.
5.
Learn.
6.
Light.
7.
Lit.
8.
Man.
9.
Wide.
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 un-.
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.
tmd (5)
tamed. teamed. teemed. timed. timid.
Post Box : Ask Nicholas
Grok : Ask Grok
You are welcome to share your creativity with me, or ask for help with any of the exercises on Clay Lane. Write to me at this address:
See more at Post Box.
If you like what I’m doing here on Clay Lane, from time to time you could buy me a coffee.
Buy Me a Coffee is a crowdfunding website, used by over a million people. It is designed to help content creators like me make a living from their work. ‘Buy Me a Coffee’ prides itself on its security, and there is no need to register.
Related Posts
The Victorian working man had John Bright’s respect and unwavering support, but he could expect no special favours.
Picture: By John Thomson, via the LSE and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted November 13 2022
If Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli really wanted a better-educated public, he must tackle the high cost of living.
Picture: By Stanley Howe, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA.. Source.
Posted October 23 2022
John Bright asked the people of Birmingham to spread the word that a great nation, like any good citizen and neighbour, does not meddle officiously in the affairs of others.
Picture: By Henri Jannin (1816-?), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted August 16 2021
Chinese merchant Lien Chi tells a colleague that English liberties have little to do with elections, taxes and regulations.
Picture: Pierre Prévost (1764–1823), via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.. Source.
Posted August 13 2020