As the crew tie up to the pier at the US Coast Guard base on Kodiak Island, Alaska, a seaman aboard the Russian Federal Border Guard Service vessel Neva, named after the river that runs through St Petersburg, prepares to hoist a Russian naval jack. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Russians reinstated the naval flags of the Russian Empire: the jack (1700-1918), as shown above, flown from the bow; and the larger ensign (1710-1917), a blue saltire of St Andrew on white background, flown from the stern. In 1836, it was not just the flags that were in harmony as the British and Russian Empires worked together to strangle the USA’s trade in African slaves.
Introduction
Long after slavery was criminalised throughout the British Empire, the abuse went on unabated in the USA. Hoping to escape the wrath of the Royal Navy, traders with their wretched cargo would sail to America under false colours, but on April 2nd, 1836, the Russian Consul in New York, Alexis Eustaphieve (1755-1857), issued this stern Consular notice to any who thus dishonoured the Russian flag.
“CERTAIN individuals who, in defiance of the laws of their own country, still continue to engage in the African slave-trade, having given cause for suspicion that they intend to make use of the Russian flag as a protection against the right of search and seizure, mutually assumed and conceded by the powers participating in the treaty for the suppression of this nefarious traffic, the undersigned, the Russian Consul General, at New York, being specially instructed by his government, gives hereby public notice to all persons whom it may concern, that the Russian flag can in no case be resorted to without the previous permission of the Imperial Government, and without legal authorization in due form, and in strict accordance with the laws of the empire; that any proceeding to the contrary shall be considered as a fraud, exposing the persons guilty of it to all its consequences; and that no slave-trader, in any circumstances whatever, when seized under the Russian flag, or otherwise, can invoke the aid of the Imperial Government to screen him from just and well-merited punishment.”
From ‘Liberty’ (1837) by Julius Ames (1801-1850).
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
In 1836, slave-traders bringing their cargo to America (where slavery was still legal) adopted the flag of the Russian Empire, and claimed immunity from the British Royal Navy’s policing of the seas. On learning of it, the Russian Consul in New York declared that they deserved whatever the Royal Navy did to them, and that Russia would not intervene. (59 / 60 words)
In 1836, slave-traders bringing their cargo to America (where slavery was still legal) adopted the flag of the Russian Empire, and claimed immunity from the British Royal Navy’s policing of the seas. On learning of it, the Russian Consul in New York declared that they deserved whatever the Royal Navy did to them, and that Russia would not intervene.
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, despite, if, must, or, whereas, who.
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 Give. Its. Strict.
2 Case. Guilty. Right.
3 Country. Slave. Their.
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.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1.
Aid.
Aide.
2.
There.
Their.
3.
Dew.
Due.
4.
Use.
Yews.
Ewes.
5.
Its.
It’s.
6.
Him.
Hymn.
7.
Knew.
New.
8.
Sees.
Seize.
9.
Know.
No.
Subject and Object Find in Think and Speak
Use each word below in two sentences, first as the subject of a verb, and then as the object of a verb. It doesn’t have to be the same verb: some verbs can’t be paired with an object (e.g. arrive, happen), so watch out for these.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. Notice. 2. Can. 3. Law. 4. Being. 5. Case. 6. Empire. 7. Individual. 8. Due. 9. Consequence.
Variations: 1.use your noun in the plural (e.g. cat → cats), if possible. 2.give one of your sentences a future aspect (e.g. will, going to). 3.write sentences using negatives such as not, neither, nobody and never.
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?
x
0
Add
Your Words ()
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