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The Jealousy of Trade
A replica of the steam wagon of Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot.
In 1769, French engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built the world’s first steam-powered vehicle, of which this is a replica. Step by step, this led to English engineer Richard Trevithick successfully testing the world’s first steam locomotive at the Pen-y-Darren ironworks in 1803. As Hume says, Britain’s astonishing record of invention and industrial progress is founded on learning from others.
Back to text
In 1769, French engineer Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built the world’s first steam-powered vehicle, of which this is a replica. Step by step, this led to English engineer Richard Trevithick successfully testing the world’s first steam locomotive at the Pen-y-Darren ironworks in 1803. As Hume says, Britain’s astonishing record of invention and industrial progress is founded on learning from others.
Introduction
Politicians waste years and squander billions thrashing out grudging trade deals in an atmosphere of mutual distrust. But back in the 1740s, Scottish philospher David Hume argued that if we wish to be prosperous ourselves we should welcome prosperity in our neighbours.
NOTHING is more usual, among states which have made some advances in commerce, than to look on the progress of their neighbours with a suspicious eye, to consider all trading states as their rivals, and to suppose that it is impossible for any of them to flourish, but at their expense.
In opposition to this narrow and malignant opinion, I will venture to assert, that the increase of riches and commerce in any one nation, instead of hurting, commonly promotes the riches and commerce of all its neighbours; and that a state can scarcely carry its trade and industry very far, where all the surrounding states are buried in ignorance, sloth, and barbarism.
Compare the situation of Great Britain at present, with what it was two centuries ago. All the arts both of agriculture and manufactures were then extremely rude and imperfect. Every improvement, which we have since made, has arisen from our imitation of foreigners; notwithstanding the advanced state of our manufactures, we daily adopt, in every art, the inventions and improvements of our neighbours.*
Spelling modernised
* See also John Bright on The Friendship of Trade.
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.
In the eighteenth century, Scottish philospher David Hume criticised the view that a wealthy nation should try to keep other nations poor in order to remain wealthy. He argued that prosperity is increased when our neighbours are encouraged to advance, since the history of Britain shows that our ongoing success is founded on foreign inventions and trade. (57 / 60 words)
In the eighteenth century, Scottish philospher David Hume criticised the view that a wealthy nation should try to keep other nations poor in order to remain wealthy. He argued that prosperity is increased when our neighbours are encouraged to advance, since the history of Britain shows that our ongoing success is founded on foreign inventions and trade.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, if, may, must, not, until, who.
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 Invention. Look. Than.
2 Both. Surround. Very.
3 Barbarism. Nation. Promote.
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.)
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.
lnd (5+1)
land. leaned. lend. lined. loaned.
eland.
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