The Querist

by

George Berkley

1735

The Querist Containing Several Queries Proposed to the Considerationof the Public

Part I

Query 1. 

Whether there ever was, is, or will be, an industrious nation poor, or an idle rich?

2. Qu. Whether a people can be called poor, where the common sortare well fed, clothed, and lodged?

3. Qu. Whether the drift and aim of every wise State should not be, to encourage industry in its members? And whether those who employneither heads nor hands for the common benefit deserve not to beexpelled like drones out of a well-governed State?

4. Qu. Whether the four elements, and man's labour therein, be notthe true source of wealth?

5. Qu. Whether money be not only so far useful, as it stirreth upindustry, enabling men mutually to participate the fruits of eachother's labour?

6. Qu. Whether any other means, equally conducing to excite andcirculate the industry of mankind, may not be as useful as money. 

7. Qu. Whether the real end and aim of men be not power? And whetherhe who could have everything else at his wish or will would valuemoney?

8. Qu. Whether the public aim in every well-govern'd State be notthat each member, according to his just pretensions and industry, should have power?

9. Qu. Whether power be not referred to action; and whether actiondoth not follow appetite or will?

10. Qu. Whether fashion doth not create appetites; and whether theprevailing will of a nation is not the fashion?

11. Qu. Whether the current of industry and commerce be notdetermined by this prevailing will?

12. Qu. Whether it be not owing to custom that the fashions areagreeable?

13. Qu. Whether it may not concern the wisdom of the legislature tointerpose in the making of fashions; and not leave an affair of sogreat influence to the management of women and fops, tailors andvintners?

14. Qu. Whether reasonable fashions are a greater restraint onfreedom than those which are unreasonable?

15. Qu. Whether a general good taste in a people would not greatlyconduce to their thriving? And whether an uneducated gentry be notthe greatest of national evils?

16. Qu. Whether customs and fashions do not supply the place ofreason in the vulgar of all ranks? Whether, therefore, it doth notvery much import that they should be wisely framed?

17. Qu. Whether the imitating those neighbours in our fashions, towhom we bear no likeness in our circumstances, be not one cause ofdistress to this nation?

18. Qu. Whether frugal fashions in the upper rank, and comfortableliving in the lower, be not the means to multiply inhabitants?

19. Qu. Whether the bulk of our Irish natives are not kept fromthriving, by that cynical content in dirt and beggary which theypossess to a degree beyond any other people in Christendom?

20. Qu. Whether the creating of wants be not the likeliest way toproduce industry in a people? And whether, if our peasants wereaccustomed to eat beef and wear shoes, they would not be moreindustrious?

21. Qu. Whether other things being given, as climate, soil, etc. , the wealth be not proportioned to the industry, and this to thecirculation of credit, be the credit circulated or transferred bywhat marks or tokens soever?

22. Qu. Whether, therefore, less money swiftly circulating, be not, in effect, equivalent to more money slowly circulating? Or, whether, if the circulation be reciprocally as the quantity of coin, thenation can be a loser?

23. Qu. Whether money is to be considered as having an intrinsicvalue, or as being a commodity, a standard, a measure, or a pledge, as is variously suggested by writers? And whether the true idea ofmoney, as such, be not altogether that of a ticket or counter?

24. Qu. Whether the value or price of things be not a compoundedproportion, directly as the demand, and reciprocally as the plenty?

25. Qu. Whether the terms crown, livre, pound sterling, etc. , arenot to be considered as exponents or denominations of suchproportion? And whether gold, silver, and paper are not tickets orcounters for reckoning, recording, and transferring thereof?

26. Qu. Whether the denominations being retained, although thebullion were gone, things might not nevertheless be rated, bought, and sold, industry promoted, and a circulation of commercemaintained?

27. Qu. Whether an equal raising of all sorts of gold, silver, andcopper coin can have any effect in bringing money into the kingdom?And whether altering the proportions between the kingdom severalsorts can have any other effect but multiplying one kind andlessening another, without any increase of the sum total?

28. Qu. Whether arbitrary changing the denomination of coin be not apublic cheat?

29. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, the damage would be veryconsiderable, if by degrees our money were brought back to theEnglish value there to rest for ever?

30. Qu. Whether the English crown did not formerly pass with us forsix shillings? And what inconvenience ensued to the public upon itsreduction to the present value, and whether what hath been may notbe?

31. Qu. What makes a wealthy people? Whether mines of gold andsilver are capable of doing this? And whether the negroes, amidstthe gold sands of Afric, are not poor and destitute?

32. Qu. Whether there be any vertue in gold or silver, other than asthey set people at work, or create industry?

33. Qu. Whether it be not the opinion or will of the people, exciting them to industry, that truly enricheth a nation? Andwhether this doth not principally depend on the means for counting, transferring, and preserving power, that is, property of all kinds?

34. Qu. Whether if there was no silver or gold in the kingdom, ourtrade might not, nevertheless, supply bills of exchange, sufficientto answer the demands of absentees in England or elsewhere?

35. Qu. Whether current bank notes may not be deemed money? Andwhether they are not actually the greater part of the money of thiskingdom?

36. Qu. Provided the wheels move, whether it is not the same thing, as to the effect of the machine, be this done by the force of wind, or water, or animals?

37. Qu. Whether power to command the industry of others be not realwealth? And whether money be not in truth tickets or tokens forconveying and recording such power, and whether it be of greatconsequence what materials the tickets are made of?

38. Qu. Whether trade, either foreign or domestic, be in truth anymore than this commerce of industry?

39. Qu. Whether to promote, transfer, and secure this commerce, andthis property in human labour, or, in other words, this power, benot the sole means of enriching a people, and how far this may bedone independently of gold and silver?

40. Qu. Whether it were not wrong to suppose land itself to bewealth? And whether the industry of the people is not first to beconsider'd, as that which constitutes wealth, which makes even landand silver to be wealth, neither of which would have, any value butas means and motives to industry?

41. Qu. Whether in the wastes of America a man might not possesstwenty miles square of land, and yet want his dinner, or a coat tohis back?

42. Qu. Whether a fertile land, and the industry of its inhabitants, would not prove inexhaustible funds of real wealth, be the countersfor conveying and recording thereof what you will, paper, gold, orsilver?

43. Qu. Whether a single hint be sufficient to overcome a prejudice?And whether even obvious truths will not sometimes bear repeating?

44. Qu. Whether, if human labour be the true source of wealth, itdoth not follow that idleness should of all things be discouraged ina wise State?

45. Qu. Whether even gold or silver, if they should lessen theindustry of its inhabitants, would not be ruinous to a country? Andwhether Spain be not an instance of this?

46. Qu. Whether the opinion of men, and their industry consequentthereupon, be not the true wealth of Holland and not the silversupposed to be deposited in the bank at Amsterdam?

47. Qu. Whether there is in truth any such treasure lying dead? Andwhether it be of great consequence to the public that it should bereal rather than notional?

48. Qu. Whether in order to understand the true nature of wealth andcommerce, it would not be right to consider a ship's crew cast upona desert island, and by degrees forming themselves to business andcivil life, while industry begot credit, and credit moved toindustry?

49. Qu. Whether such men would not all set themselves to work?Whether they would not subsist by the mutual participation of eachother's industry? Whether, when one man had in his way procured morethan he could consume, he would not exchange his superfluities tosupply his wants? Whether this must not produce credit? Whether, tofacilitate these conveyances, to record and circulate this credit, they would not soon agree on certain tallies, tokens, tickets, orcounters?

50. Qu. Whether reflection in the better sort might not soon remedyour evils? And whether our real defect be not a wrong way ofthinking?

51. Qu. Whether it would not be an unhappy turn in our gentlemen, ifthey should take more thought to create an interest to themselves inthis or that county, or borough, than to promote the real interestof their country?

52. Qu. Whether it be not a bull to call that making an interest, whereby a man spendeth much and gaineth nothing?

53. Qu. Whether if a man builds a house he doth not in the firstplace provide a plan which governs his work? And shall the pubic actwithout an end, a view, a plan?

54. Qu. Whether by how much the less particular folk think forthemselves, the public be not so much the more obliged to think forthem?

55. Qu. Whether cunning be not one thing and good sense another? andwhether a cunning tradesman doth not stand in his own light?

56. Qu. Whether small gains be not the way to great profit? And ifour tradesmen are beggars, whether they may not thank themselves forit?

57. Qu. Whether some way might not be found for making criminalsuseful in public works, instead of sending them either to America, or to the other world?

58. Qu. Whether we may not, as well as other nations, contriveemployment for them? And whether servitude, chains, and hard labour, for a term of years, would not be a more discouraging as well as amore adequate punishment for felons than even death itself?

59. Qu. Whether there are not such things in Holland as betteringhouses for bringing young gentlemen to order? And whether such aninstitution would be useless among us?

60. Qu. Whether it be true that the poor in Holland have no resourcebut their own labour, and yet there are no beggars in their streets?

61. Qu. Whether he whose luxury consumeth foreign products, andwhose industry produceth nothing domestic to exchange for them, isnot so far forth injurious to his country?

62. Qu. Whether, consequently, the fine gentlemen, whose employmentis only to dress, drink, and play, be not a pubic nuisance?

63. Qu. Whether necessity is not to be hearkened to beforeconvenience, and convenience before luxury?

64. Qu. Whether to provide plentifully for the poor be not feedingthe root, the substance whereof will shoot upwards into thebranches, and cause the top to flourish?

65. Qu. Whether there be any instance of a State wherein the people, living neatly and plentifully, did not aspire to wealth?

66. Qu. Whether nastiness and beggary do not, on the contrary, extinguish all such ambition, making men listless, hopeless, andslothful?

67. Qu. Whether a country inhabited by people well fed, clothed andlodged would not become every day more populous? And whether anumerous stock of people in such circumstances would? and how farthe product of not constitute a flourishing nation; our own countrymay suffice for the compassing of this end?

68. Qu. Whether a people who had provided themselves with thenecessaries of life in good plenty would not soon extend theirindustry to new arts and new branches of commerce?

69. Qu. Whether those same manufactures which England imports fromother countries may not be admitted from Ireland? And, if so, whether lace, carpets, and tapestry, three considerable articles ofEnglish importation, might not find encouragement in Ireland? Andwhether an academy for design might not greatly conduce to theperfecting those manufactures among us?

70. Qu. Whether France and Flanders could have drawn so much moneyfrom England for figured silks, lace, and tapestry, if they had nothad academies for designing?

71. Qu. Whether, when a room was once prepared, and models inplaster of Paris, the annual expense of such an academy need standthe pubic in above two hundred pounds a year?

72. Qu. Whether our linen-manufacture would not find the benefit ofthis institution? And whether there be anything that makes us fallshort of the Dutch in damasks, diapers, and printed linen, but ourignorance in design?

73. Qu. Whether those specimens of our own manufacture, hung up in acertain public place, do not sufficiently declare such ourignorance? and whether for the honour of the nation they ought notto be removed?

74. Qu. Whether those who may slight this affair as notional havesufficiently considered the extensive use of the art of design, andits influence in most trades and manufactures, wherein the forms ofthings are often more regarded than the materials?

75. Qu. Whether there be any art sooner learned than that of makingcarpets? And whether our women, with little time and pains, may notmake more beautiful carpets than those imported from Turkey? Andwhether this branch of the woollen manufacture be not open to us?

76. Qu. Whether human industry can produce, from such cheapmaterials, a manufacture of so great value by any other art as bythose of sculpture and painting?

77. Qu. Whether pictures and statues are not in fact so muchtreasure? And whether Rome and Florence would not be poor townswithout them?

78. Qu. Whether they do not bring ready money as well as jewels?Whether in Italy debts are not paid, and children portioned withthem, as with gold and silver?

79. Qu. Whether it would not be more prudent, to strike out andexert ourselves in permitted branches of trade, than to fold ourhands, and repine that we are not allowed the woollen?

80. Qu. Whether it be true that two millions are yearly expended byEngland in foreign lace and linen?

81. Qu. Whether immense sums are not drawn yearly into the Northerncountries, for supplying the British navy with hempen manufactures?

82. Qu. Whether there be anything more profitable than hemp? Andwhether there should not be great premiums for encouraging ourhempen trade? What advantages may not Great Britain make of acountry where land and labour are so cheap?

83. Qu. Whether Ireland alone might not raise hemp sufficient forthe British navy? And whether it would not be vain to expect thisfrom the British Colonies in America, where hands are so scarce, andlabour so excessively dear?

84. Qu. Whether, if our own people want will or capacity for such anattempt, it might not be worth while for some undertaking spirits inEngland to make settlements, and raise hemp in the counties of Clareand Limerick, than which, perhaps, there is not fitter land in theworld for that purpose? And whether both nations would not findtheir advantage therein?

85. Qu. Whether if all the idle hands in this kingdom were employedon hemp and flax, we might not find sufficient vent for thesemanufactures?

86. Qu. How far it may be in our own power to better our affairs, without interfering with our neighbours?

87. Qu. Whether the prohibition of our woollen trade ought notnaturally to put us on other methods which give no jealousy?

88. Qu. Whether paper be not a valuable article of commerce? Andwhether it be not true that one single bookseller in London yearlyexpended above four thousand pounds in that foreign commodity?

89. Qu. How it comes to pass that the Venetians and Genoese, whowear so much less linen, and so much worse than we do, should yetmake very good paper, and in great quantity, while we make verylittle?

90. Qu. How long it will be before my countrymen find out that it isworth while to spend a penny in order to get a groat?

91. Qu. If all the land were tilled that is fit for tillage, and allthat sowed with hemp and flax that is fit for raising them, whetherwe should have much sheep-walk beyond what was sufficient to supplythe necessities of the kingdom?

92. Qu. Whether other countries have not flourished without thewoollen trade?

93. Qu. Whether it be not a sure sign or effect of a country'sinhabitants? And, thriving, to see it well cultivated and full of;if so, whether a great quantity of sheep-walk be not ruinous to acountry, rendering it waste and thinly inhabited?

94. Qu. Whether the employing so much of our land under sheep be notin fact an Irish blunder?

95. Qu. Whether our hankering after our woollen trade be not thetrue and only reason which hath created a jealousy in Englandtowards Ireland? And whether anything can hurt us more than suchjealousy?

96. Qu. Whether it be not the true interest of both nations tobecome one people? And whether either be sufficiently apprised ofthis?

97. Qu. Whether the upper part of this people are not truly English, by blood, language, religion, manners, inclination, and interest?

98. Qu. Whether we are not as much Englishmen as the children of oldRomans, born in Britain, were still Romans?

99. Qu. Whether it be not our true interest not to interfere withthem; and, in every other case, whether it be not their trueinterest to befriend us?

100. Qu. Whether a mint in Ireland might not be of great convenienceto the kingdom; and whether it could be attended with any possibleinconvenience to Great Britain? And whether there were not mints inNaples and Sicily, when those kingdoms were provinces to Spain orthe house of Austria?

101. Qu. Whether anything can be more ridiculous than for the northof Ireland to be jealous of a linen manufacturer in the south?

102. Qu. Whether the county of Tipperary be not much better landthan the county of Armagh; and yet whether the latter is not muchbetter improved and inhabited than the former?

103. Qu. Whether every landlord in the kingdom doth not know thecause of this? And yet how few are the better for such theirknowledge?

104. Qu. Whether large farms under few hands, or small ones undermany, are likely to be made most of? And whether flax and tillage donot naturally multiply hands, and divide land into small holdings, and well-improved?

105. Qu. Whether, as our exports are lessened, we ought not tolessen our imports? And whether these will not be lessened as ourdemands, and these as our wants, and these as our customs orfashions? Of how great consequence therefore are fashions to thepublic?

106. Qu. Whether it would not be more reasonable to mend our statethan to complain of it; and how far this may be in our own power?

107. Qu. What the nation gains by those who live in Ireland upon theproduce of foreign Countries?

108. Qu. How far the vanity of our ladies in dressing, and of ourgentlemen in drinking, contributes to the general misery of thepeople?

109. Qu. Whether nations, as wise and opulent as ours, have not madesumptuary laws; and what hinders us from doing the same?

110. Qu. Whether those who drink foreign liquors, and deckthemselves and their families with foreign ornaments, are not so farforth to be reckoned absentees?

111. Qu. Whether, as our trade is limited, we ought not to limit ourexpenses; and whether this be not the natural and obvious remedy?

112. Qu. Whether the dirt, and famine, and nakedness of the bulk ofour people might not be remedied, even although we had no foreigntrade? And whether this should not be our first care; and whether, if this were once provided for, the conveniences of the rich wouldnot soon follow?

113. Qu. Whether comfortable living doth not produce wants, andwants industry, and industry wealth?

114. Qu. Whether there is not a great difference between Holland andIreland? And whether foreign commerce, without which the one couldnot subsist, be so necessary for the other?

115. Qu. Might we not put a hand to the plough, or the spade, although we had no foreign commerce?

116. Qu. Whether the exigencies of nature are not to be answered byindustry on our own soil? And how far the conveniences and comfortsof life may be procured by a domestic commerce between the severalparts of this kingdom?

117. Qu. Whether the women may not sew, spin, weave, embroidersufficiently for the embellishment of their persons, and even enoughto raise envy in each other, without being beholden to foreigncountries?

118. Qu. Suppose the bulk of our inhabitants had shoes to theirfeet, clothes to their backs, and beef in their bellies, might notsuch a state be eligible for the public, even though the squireswere condemned to drink ale and cider?

119. Qu. Whether, if drunkenness be a necessary evil, men may not aswell drink the growth of their own country?

120. Qu. Whether a nation within itself might not have real wealth, sufficient to give its inhabitants power and distinction, withoutthe help of gold and silver?

121. Qu. Whether, if the arts of sculpture and painting wereencouraged among us, we might not furnish our houses in a muchnobler manner with our own manufactures?

122. Qu. Whether we have not, or may not have, all the necessarymaterials for building at home?

123. Qu. Whether tiles and plaster may not supply the place ofNorway fir for flooring and wainscot?

124. Qu. Whether plaster be not warmer, as well as more secure, thandeal? And whether a modern fashionable house, lined with fir, daubedover with oil and paint, be not like a fire-ship, ready to belighted up by all accidents?

125. Qu. Whether larger houses, better built and furnished, agreater train of servants, the difference with regard to equipageand table between finer and coarser, more and less elegant, may notbe sufficient to feed a reasonable share of vanity, or support allproper distinctions? And whether all these may not be procured bydomestic industry out of the four elements, without ransacking thefour quarters of the globe?

126. Qu. Whether anything is a nobler ornament, in the eye of theworld, than an Italian palace, that is, stone and mortar skilfullyput together, and adorned with sculpture and painting; and whetherthis may not be compassed without foreign trade?

127. Qu. Whether an expense in gardens and plantations would not bean elegant distinction for the rich, a domestic magnificenceemploying many hands within, and drawing nothing from abroad?

128. Qu. Whether the apology which is made for foreign luxury inEngland, to wit, that they could not carry on their trade withoutimports as well as exports, will hold in Ireland?

129. Qu. Whether one may not be allowed to conceive and suppose asociety or nation of human creatures, clad in woollen cloths andstuffs, eating good bread, beef and mutton, poultry and fish, ingreat plenty, drinking ale, mead, and cider, inhabiting decenthouses built of brick and marble, taking their pleasure in fairparks and gardens, depending on no foreign imports either for foodor raiment? And whether such people ought much to be pitied?

130. Qu. Whether Ireland be not as well qualified for such a stateas any nation under the sun?

131. Qu. Whether in such a state the inhabitants may not contrive topass the twenty-four hours with tolerable ease and cheerfulness? Andwhether any people upon earth can do more?

132. Qu. Whether they may not eat, drink, play, dress, visit, sleepin good beds, sit by good fires, build, plant, raise a name, makeestates, and spend them?

133. Qu. Whether, upon the whole, a domestic trade may not sufficein such a country as Ireland, to nourish and clothe its inhabitants, and provide them with the reasonable conveniences and even comfortsof life?

134. Qu. Whether a general habit of living well would not producenumbers and industry' and whether, considering the tendency of humankind, the consequence thereof would not be foreign trade and riches, how unnecessary soever?

135. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, it be a crime to inquire how far wemay do without foreign trade, and what would follow on such asupposition?

136. Qu. Whether the number and welfare of the subjects be not thetrue strength of the crown?

137. Qu. Whether in all public institutions there should not be anend proposed, which is to be the rule and limit of the means?Whether this end should not be the well-being of the whole? Andwhether, in order to this, the first step should not be to clotheand feed our people?

138. Qu. Whether there be upon earth any Christian or civilizedpeople so beggarly, wretched, and destitute as the common Irish?

139. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, there is any other people whosewants may be more easily supplied from home?

140. Qu. Whether, if there was a wall of brass a thousand cubitshigh round this kingdom, our natives might not nevertheless livecleanly and comfortably, till the land, and reap the fruits of it?

141. Qu. What should hinder us from exerting ourselves, using ourhands and brains, doing something or other, man, woman, and child, like the other inhabitants of God's earth?

142. Qu. Be the restraining our trade well or ill advised in ourneighbours, with respect to their own interest, yet whether it benot plainly ours to accommodate ourselves to it?

143. Qu. Whether it be not vain to think of persuading other peopleto see their interest, while we continue blind to our own?

144. Qu. Whether there be any other nation possess'd of so much goodland, and so many able hands to work it, which yet is beholden forbread to foreign countries?

145. Qu. Whether it be true that we import corn to the value of twohundred thousand pounds in some years?

146. Qu. Whether we are not undone by fashions made for otherpeople? And whether it be not madness in a poor nation to imitate arich one?

147. Qu. Whether a woman of fashion ought not to be declared apublic enemy?

148. Qu. Whether it be not certain that from the single town of Corkwere exported, in one year, no less than one hundred and seventhousand one hundred and sixty-one barrels of beef; seven thousandthree hundred and seventy-nine barrels of pork; thirteen thousandfour hundred and sixty-one casks, and eighty-five thousand sevenhundred and twenty-seven firkins of butter? And what hands wereemployed in this manufacture?

149. Qu. Whether a foreigner could imagine that one half of thepeople were starving, in a country which sent out such plenty ofprovisions?

150. Qu. Whether an Irish lady, set out with French silks andFlanders lace, may not be said to consume more beef and butter thana hundred of our labouring peasants?

151. Qu. Whether nine-tenths of our foreign trade be not carried onsingly to support the article of vanity?

152. Qu. Whether it can be hoped that private persons will notindulge this folly, unless restrained by the public?

153. Qu. How vanity is maintained in other countries? Whether inHungary, for instance, a proud nobility are not subsisted with smallimports from abroad?

154. Qu. Whether there be a prouder people upon earth than the nobleVenetians, although they all wear plain black clothes?

155. Qu. Whether a people are to be pitied that will not sacrificetheir little particular vanities to the public good? And yet, whether each part would not except their own foible from this publicsacrifice, the squire his bottle, the lady her lace?

156. Qu. Whether claret be not often drank rather for vanity thanfor health, or pleasure?

157. Qu. Whether it be true that men of nice palates have beenimposed on, by elder wine for French claret, and by mead for palmsack?

158. Qu. Do not Englishmen abroad purchase beer and cider at tentimes the price of wine?

159. Qu. How many gentlemen are there in England of a thousandpounds per annum who never drink wine in their own houses? Whetherthe same may be said of any in Ireland who have even? one hundredpounds per annum. 

160. Qu. What reasons have our neighbours in England fordiscouraging French wines which may not hold with respect to usalso?

161. Qu. How much of the necessary sustenance of our people isyearly exported for brandy?

162. Qu. Whether, if people must poison themselves, they had notbetter do it with their own growth?

163. Qu. If we imported neither claret from France, nor fir fromNorway, what the nation would save by it?

164. Qu. When the root yieldeth insufficient nourishment, whethermen do not top the tree to make the lower branches thrive?

165. Qu. Whether, if our ladies drank sage or balm tea out of Irishware, it would be an insupportable national calamity?

166. Qu. Whether it be really true that such wine is best as mostencourages drinking, i. E. , that must be given in the largest dose toproduce its effect? And whether this holds with regard to any othermedicine?

167. Qu. Whether that trade should not be accounted most perniciouswherein the balance is most against us? And whether this be not thetrade with France?

168. Qu. Whether it be not even madness to encourage trade with anation that takes nothing of our manufacture?

169. Qu. Whether Ireland can hope to thrive if the major part of herpatriots shall be found in the French interest?

170. Qu. Why, if a bribe by the palate or the purse be in effect thesame thing, they should not be alike infamous?

171. Qu. Whether the vanity and luxury of a few ought to stand incompetition with the interest of a nation?

172. Qu. Whether national wants ought not to be the rule of trade?And whether the most pressing wants of the majority ought not to befirst consider'd?

173. Qu. Whether it is possible the country should be well improved, while our beef is exported, and our labourers live upon potatoes?

174. Qu. If it be resolved that we cannot do without foreign trade, whether, at least, it may not be worth while to consider whatbranches thereof deserve to be entertained, and how far we may beable to carry it on under our present limitations?

175. Qu. What foreign imports may be necessary for clothing andfeeding the families of persons not worth above one hundred pounds ayear? And how many wealthier there are in the kingdom, and whatproportion they bear to the other inhabitants?

176. Qu. Whether trade be not then on a right foot, when foreigncommodities are imported in exchange only for domestic superfluities?

177. Qu. Whether the quantities of beef, butter, wool, and leather, exported from this island, can be reckoned the superfluities of acountry, where there are so many natives naked and famished?

178. Qu. Whether it would not be wise so to order our trade as toexport manufactures rather than provisions, and of those such asemploy most hands?

179. Qu. Whether she would not be a very vile matron, and justlythought either mad or foolish, that should give away the necessariesof life from her naked and famished children, in exchange for pearlsto stick in her hair, and sweetmeats to please her own palate?

180. Qu. Whether a nation might not be consider'd as a family?

181. Qu. Whether other methods may not be found for supplying thefunds, besides the custom on things imported?

182. Qu. Whether any art or manufacture be so difficult as themaking of good laws?

183. Qu. Whether our peers and gentlemen are born legislators? Or, whether that faculty be acquired by study and reflection?

184. Qu. Whether to comprehend the real interest of a people, andthe means to procure it, doth not imply some fund of knowledge, historical, moral, and political, with a faculty of reason improvedby learning?

185. Qu. Whether every enemy to learning be not a Goth? And whetherevery such Goth among us be not an enemy to the country?

186. Qu. Whether, therefore, it would not be an omen of ill presage, a dreadful phenomenon in the land, if our great men should take itin their heads to deride learning and education?

187. Qu. Whether, on the contrary, it should not seem worth while toerect a mart of literature in this kingdom, under wiser regulationsand better discipline than in any other part of Europe? And whetherthis would not be an infallible means of drawing men and money intothe kingdom?

188. Qu. Whether the governed be not too numerous for the governingpart of our college? And whether it might not be expedient toconvert thirty natives-places into twenty fellowships?

189. Qu. Whether, if we had two colleges, there might not spring auseful emulation between them? And whether it might not be contrivedso to divide the fellows, scholars, and revenues between both, asthat no member should be a loser thereby?

190. Qu. Whether ten thousand pounds well laid out might not build adecent college, fit to contain two hundred persons; and whether thepurchase money of the chambers would not go a good way towardsdefraying the expense?

191. Qu. Where this college should be situated?

192. Qu. Whether it is possible a State should not thrive, whereofthe lower part were industrious, and the upper wise?

193. Qu. Whether the collected wisdom of ages and nations be notfound in books, improved and applied by study?

194. Qu. Whether it was not an Irish professor who first opened thepublic schools at Oxford? Whether this island hath not beenanciently famous for learning? And whether at this day it hath anybetter chance for being considerable?

195. Qu. Whether we may not with better grace sit down and complain, when we have done all that lies in our power to help ourselves?

196. Qu. Whether the gentleman of estate hath a right to be idle;and whether he ought not to be the great promoter and director ofindustry among his tenants and neighbours?

197. Qu. Whether the real foundation for wealth must not be laid inthe numbers, the frugality, and the industry of the people? Andwhether all attempts to enrich a nation by other means, as raisingthe coin, stock-jobbing, and such arts are not vain?

198. Qu. Whether a door ought not to be shut against all othermethods of growing rich, save only by industry and merit? Andwhether wealth got otherwise would not be ruinous to the public?

199. Qu. Whether the abuse of banks and paper-money is a justobjection against the use thereof? And whether such abuse might noteasily be prevented?

200. Qu. Whether national banks are not found useful in Venice, Holland, and Hamburg? And whether it is not possible to contrive onethat may be useful also in Ireland?

201. Qu. Whether any nation ever was in greater want of such anexpedient than Ireland?

202. Qu. Whether the banks of Venice and Amsterdam are not in thehands of the public?

203. Qu. Whether it may not be worth while to inform ourselves inthe nature of those banks? And what reason can be assigned whyIreland should not reap the benefit of such public banks as well asother countries?

204. Qu. Whether a bank of national credit, supported by publicfunds and secured by Parliament, be a chimera or impossible thing?And if not, what would follow from the supposal of such a bank?

205. Qu. Whether the currency of a credit so well secured would notbe of great advantage to our trade and manufactures?

206. Qu. Whether the notes of such public bank would not have a moregeneral circulation than those of private banks, as being lesssubject to frauds and hazards?

207. Qu. Whether it be not agreed that paper hath in many respectsthe advantage above coin, as being of more dispatch in payments, more easily transferred, preserved, and recovered when lost?

208. Qu. Whether, besides these advantages, there be not an evidentnecessity for circulating credit by paper, from the defect of coinin this kingdom?

209. Qu. Whether the public may not as well save the interest whichit now pays?

210. Qu. What would happen if two of our banks should break at once?And whether it be wise to neglect providing against an event whichexperience hath shewn us not to be impossible?

211. Qu. Whether such an accident would not particularly affect thebankers? And therefore whether a national bank would not be asecurity even to private bankers?

212. Qu. Whether we may not easily avoid the inconvenienciesattending the paper-money of New England, which were incurred bytheir issuing too great a quantity of notes, by their having nosilver in bank to exchange for notes, by their not insisting uponrepayment of the loans at the time prefixed, and especially by theirwant of manufactures to answer their imports from Europe?

213. Qu. Whether a combination of bankers might not do wonders, andwhether bankers know their own strength?

214. Qu. Whether a bank in private hands might not even overturn agovernment? and whether this was not the case of the Bank of St. George in Genoa? [Footnote: See the Vindication and Advancement ofour national Constitution and Credit. Printed in London 1710. ]

215. Qu. Whether we may not easily prevent the ill effects of such abank as Mr Law proposed for Scotland, which was faulty in notlimiting the quantum of bills, and permitting all persons to takeout what bills they pleased, upon the mortgage of lands, whence by aglut of paper, the prices of things must rise? Whence also thefortunes of men must increase in denomination, though not in value;whence pride, idleness, and beggary?

216. Qu. Whether such banks as those of England and Scotland mightnot be attended with great inconveniences, as lodging too much powerin the hands of private men, and giving handle for monopolies, stock-jobbing, and destructive schemes?

217. Qu. Whether the national bank, projected by an anonymous writerin the latter end of Queen Anne's reign, might not on the other handbe attended with as great inconveniencies by lodging too much powerin the Government?

218. Qu. Whether the bank projected by Murray, though it partake, inmany useful particulars, with that of Amsterdam, yet, as it placethtoo great power in the hands of a private society, might not bedangerous to the public?

219. Qu. Whether it be rightly remarked by some that, as bankingbrings no treasure into the kingdom like trade, private wealth mustsink as the bank riseth? And whether whatever causeth industry toflourish and circulate may not be said to increase our treasure?

220. Qu. Whether the ruinous effects of Mississippi, South Sea, andsuch schemes were not owing to an abuse of paper money or credit, inmaking it a means for idleness and gaming, instead of a motive andhelp to industry?

221. Qu. Whether those effects could have happened had there been nostock-jobbing? And whether stock-jobbing could at first have beenset on foot, without an imaginary foundation of some improvement tothe stock by trade? Whether, therefore, when there are no suchprospects, or cheats, or private schemes proposed, the same effectscan be justly feared?

222. Qu. Whether by a national bank, be not properly understood abank, not only established by public authority as the Bank ofEngland, but a bank in the hands of the public, wherein there are noshares: whereof the public alone is proprietor, and reaps all thebenefit?

223. Qu. Whether, having considered the conveniencies of banking andpaper-credit in some countries, and the inconveniencies thereof inothers, we may not contrive to adopt the former, and avoid thelatter?

224. Qu. Whether great evils, to which other schemes are liable, maynot be prevented, by excluding the managers of the bank from a sharein the legislature?

225. Qu. Whether the rise of the bank of Amsterdam was not purelycasual, for the security and dispatch of payments? And whether thegood effects thereof, in supplying the place of coin, and promotinga ready circulation of industry and commerce may not be a lesson tous, to do that by design which others fell upon by chance?

226. Qu. Whether the bank proposed to be established in Ireland, under the notion of a national bank, by the voluntary subscriptionof three hundred thousand pounds, to pay off the national debt, theinterest of which sum to be paid the subscribers, subject to certainterms of redemption, be not in reality a private bank, as those ofEngland and Scotland, which are national only in name, being in thehands of particular persons, and making dividends on the money paidin by subscribers? [Footnote: See a Proposal for the Relief ofIreland, &c. Printed in Dublin A. D. 1734]

227. Qu. Whether plenty of small cash be not absolutely necessaryfor keeping up a circulation among the people; that is, whethercopper be not more necessary than gold?

228. Qu. Whether it is not worth while to reflect on the expedientsmade use of by other nations, paper-money, bank-notes, public funds, and credit in all its shapes, to examine what hath been done anddevised to add to our own animadversions, and upon the whole offersuch hints as seem not unworthy the attention of the public?

229. Qu. Whether that, which increaseth the stock of a nation be nota means of increasing its trade? And whether that which increaseththe current credit of a nation may not be said to increase itsstock?

230. Qu. Whether it may not be expedient to appoint certain funds orstock for a national bank, under direction of certain persons, one-third whereof to be named by the Government, and one-third byeach House of Parliament?

231. Qu. Whether the directors should not be excluded from sittingin either House, and whether they should not be subject to the auditand visitation of a standing committee of both Houses?

232. Qu. Whether such committee of inspectors should not be changedevery two years, one-half going out, and another coming in byballot?

233. Qu. Whether the notes ought not to be issued in lots, to be letat interest on mortgaged lands, the whole number of lots to bedivided among the four provinces, rateably to the number of hearthsin each?

234. Qu. Whether it may not be expedient to appoint fourcounting-houses, one in each province, for converting notes intospecie?

235. Qu. Whether a limit should not be fixed, which no person mightexceed, in taking out notes?

236. Qu. Whether, the better to answer domestic circulation, it maynot be right to issue notes as low as twenty shillings?

237. Qu. Whether all the bills should be issued at once, or ratherby degrees, that so men may be gradually accustomed and reconciledto the bank?

238. Qu. Whether the keeping of the cash, and the direction of thebank, ought not to be in different hands, and both under publiccontrol?

239. Qu. Whether the same rule should not alway be observed, oflending out money or notes, only to half the value of the mortgagedland? and whether this value should not alway be rated at the samenumber of years' purchase as at first?

240. Qu. Whether care should not be taken to prevent an undue riseof the value of land?

241. Qu. Whether the increase of industry and people will not ofcourse raise the value of land? And whether this rise may not besufficient?

242. Qu. Whether land may not be apt to rise on the issuing toogreat plenty of notes?

243. Qu. Whether this may not be prevented by the gradual and slowissuing of notes, and by frequent sales of lands?

244. Qu. Whether interest doth not measure the true value of land;for instance, where money is at five per cent, whether land is notworth twenty years' purchase?

245. Qu. Whether too small a proportion of money would not hurt thelanded man, and too great a proportion the monied man? And whetherthe quantum of notes ought not to bear proportion to the pubicdemand? And whether trial must not shew what this demand will be?

246. Qu. Whether the exceeding this measure might not produce diversbad effects, one whereof would be the loss of our silver?

247. Qu. Whether interest paid into the bank ought not to go onaugmenting its stock?

248. Qu. Whether it would or would not be right to appoint that thesaid interest be paid in notes only?

249. Qu. Whether the notes of this national bank should not bereceived in all payments into the exchequer?

250. Qu. Whether on supposition that the specie should fail, thecredit would not, nevertheless, still pass, being admitted in allpayments of the public revenue?

251. Qu. Whether the pubic can become bankrupt so long as the notesare issued on good security?

252. Qu. Whether mismanagement, prodigal living, hazards by trade, which often affect private banks, are equally to be apprehended in apubic one?

253. Qu. Whether as credit became current, and this raised the valueof land, the security must not of course rise?

254. Qu. Whether, as our current domestic credit grew, industrywould not grow likewise; and if industry, our manufactures; and ifthese, our foreign credit?

255. Qu. Whether by degrees, as business and people multiplied, morebills may not be issued, without augmenting the capital stock, provided still, that they are issued on good security; which furtherissuing of new bills, not to be without consent of Parliament?

256. Qu. Whether such bank would not be secure? Whether the profitsaccruing to the pubic would not be very considerable? And whetherindustry in private persons would not be supplied, and a generalcirculation encouraged?

257. Qu. Whether such bank should, or should not, be allowed toissue notes for money deposited therein? And, if not, whether thebankers would have cause to complain?

258. Qu. Whether, if the public thrives, all particular persons mustnot feel the benefit thereof, even the bankers themselves?

259. Qu. Whether, beside the Bank-Company, there are not in Englandmany private wealthy bankers, and whether they were more before theerecting of that company?

260. Qu. Whether as industry increased, our manufactures would notflourish; and as these flourished, whether better returns would notbe made from estates to their landlords, both within and without thekingdom?

261. Qu. Whether we have not paper-money circulating among, whether, therefore, we might not as well have that us already which issecured by the public, and whereof the pubic reaps the benefit?

262. Qu. Whether there are not two general ways of circulatingmoney, to wit, play and traffic? and whether stock-jobbing is not tobe ranked under the former?

263. Qu. Whether there are more than two things that might drawsilver out of the bank, when its credit was once well established, to wit, foreign demands and small payments at home?

264. Qu. Whether, if our trade with France were checked, the formerof these causes could be supposed to operate at all? and whether thelatter could operate to any great degree?

265. Qu. Whether the sure way to supply people with tools andmaterials, and to set them at work, be not a free circulation ofmoney, whether silver or paper?

266. Qu. Whether in New England all trade and business is not asmuch at a stand, upon a scarcity of paper-money, as with us from thewant of specie?

267. Qu. Whether paper-money or notes may not be issued from thenational bank, on the security of hemp, of linen, or othermanufactures whereby the poor might be supported in their industry?

268. Qu. Whether it be certain that the quantity of silver in thebank of Amsterdam be greater now than at first; but whether it benot certain that there is a greater circulation of industry andextent of trade, more people, ships, houses, and commodities of allsorts, more power by sea and land?

269. Qu. Whether money, lying dead in the bank of Amsterdam, wouldnot be as useless as in the mine?

270. Qu. Whether our visible security in land could be doubted? Andwhether there be anything like this in the bank of Amsterdam?

271. Qu. Whether it be just to apprehend danger from trusting anational bank with power to extend its credit, to circulate noteswhich it shall be felony to counterfeit, to receive goods on loans, to purchase lands, to sell also or alienate them, and to deal inbills of exchange; when these powers are no other than have beentrusted for many years with the bank of England, although in truthbut a private bank?

272. Qu. Whether the objection from monopolies and an overgrowth ofpower, which are made against private banks, can possibly holdagainst a national one?

273. Qu. Whether banks raised by private subscription would be asadvantageous to the public as to the subscribers? and whether risksand frauds might not be more justly apprehended from them?

274. Qu. Whether the evil effects which of late years have attendedpaper-money and credit in Europe did not spring from subscriptions, shares, dividends, and stock-jobbing?

275. Qu. Whether the great evils attending paper-money in theBritish Plantations of America have not sprung from the overratingtheir lands, and issuing paper without discretion, and from thelegislators breaking their own rules in favour of themselves, thussacrificing the public to their private benefit? And whether alittle sense and honesty might not easily prevent all suchinconveniences?

276. Qu. Whether an argument from the abuse of things, against theuse of them, be conclusive?

277. Qu. Whether he who is bred to a part be fitted to judge of thewhole?

278. Qu. Whether interest be not apt to bias judgment? and whethertraders only are to be consulted about trade, or bankers aboutmoney?

279. Qu. Whether the subject of Freethinking in religion be notexhausted? And whether it be not high time for our freethinkers toturn their thoughts to the improvement of their country?

280. Qu. Whether any man hath a right to judge, that will not be atthe pains to distinguish?

281. Qu. Whether there be not a wide difference between the profitsgoing to augment the national stock, and being divided among privatesharers? And whether, in the former case, there can possibly be anygaming or stock-jobbing?

282. Qu. Whether it must not be ruinous for a nation to sit down togame, be it with silver or with paper?

283. Qu. Whether, therefore, the circulating paper, in the lateruinous schemes of France and England, was the true evil, and notrather the circulating thereof without industry? And whether thebank of Amsterdam, where industry had been for so many yearssubsisted and circulated by transfers on paper, doth not clearlydecide this point?

284. Qu. Whether there are not to be seen in America fair towns, wherein the people are well lodged, fed, and clothed, without abeggar in their streets, although there be not one grain of gold orsilver current among them?

285. Qu. Whether these people do not exercise all arts and trades, build ships and navigate them to all parts of the world, purchaselands, till and reap the fruits of them, buy and sell, educate andprovide for their children? Whether they do not even indulgethemselves in foreign vanities?

286. Qu. Whether, whatever inconveniences those people may haveincurred from not observing either rules or bounds in their papermoney, yet it be not certain that they are in a more flourishingcondition, have larger and better built towns, more plenty, moreindustry, more arts and civility, and a more extensive commerce, than when they had gold and silver current among them?

287. Qu. Whether a view of the ruinous effects of absurd schemes andcredit mismanaged, so as to produce gaming and madness instead ofindustry, can be any just objection against a national bankcalculated purely to promote industry?

288. Qu. Whether a scheme for the welfare of this nation should nottake in the whole inhabitants? And whether it be not a vain attempt, to project the flourishing of our Protestant gentry, exclusive ofthe bulk of the natives?

289. Qu. Whether, therefore, it doth not greatly concern the State, that our Irish natives should be converted, and the whole nationunited in the same religion, the same allegiance, and the sameinterest? and how this may most probably be effected?

290. Qu. Whether an oath, testifying allegiance to the king, anddisclaiming the pope's authority in temporals, may not be justlyrequired of the Roman Catholics? And whether, in common prudence orpolicy, any priest should be tolerated who refuseth to take it?

291. Qu. Whether there have not been Popish recusants? and, if so, whether it would be right to object against the foregoing oath, thatall would take it, and none think themselves bound by it?

292. Qu. Whether those of the Church of Rome, in converting theMoors of Spain or the Protestants of France, have not set us anexample which might justify a similar treatment of themselves, ifthe laws of Christianity allowed thereof?

293. Qu. Whether compelling men to a profession of faith is not theworst thing in Popery, and, consequently, whether to copy after theChurch of Rome therein, were not to become Papists ourselves in theworst sense?

294. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, we may not imitate the Church ofRome, in certain places, where Jews are tolerated, by obliging ourIrish Papists, at stated times, to hear Protestant sermons? andwhether this would not make missionaries in the Irish tongue useful?

295. Qu. Whether the mere act of hearing, without making anyprofession of faith, or joining in any part of worship, be areligious act; and, consequently, whether their being obliged tohear, may not consist with the toleration of Roman Catholics?

296. Qu. Whether, if penal laws should be thought oppressive, we maynot at least be allowed to give premiums? And whether it would bewrong, if the public encouraged Popish families to become hearers, by paying their hearth-money for them?

297. Qu. Whether in granting toleration, we ought not to distinguishbetween doctrines purely religious, and such as affect the State?

298. Qu. Whether the case be not very different in regard to a manwho only eats fish on Fridays, says his prayers in Latin, orbelieves transubstantiation, and one who professeth in temporals asubjection to foreign powers, who holdeth himself absolved from allobedience to his natural prince and the laws of his country? who iseven persuaded, it may be meritorious to destroy the powers thatare?

299. Qu. Whether, therefore, a distinction should not be madebetween mere Papists and recusants? And whether the latter canexpect the same protection from the Government as the former?

300. Qu. Whether our Papists in this kingdom can complain, if theyare allowed to be as much Papists as the subjects of France or ofthe Empire?

301. Qu. Whether there is any such thing as a body of inhabitants, in any Roman Catholic country under the sun, that profess anabsolute submission to the pope's orders in matters of anindifferent nature, or that in such points do not think it theirduty to obey the civil government?

302. Qu. Whether since the peace of Utrecht, mass was not celebratedand the sacraments administered in divers dioceses of Sicily, notwithstanding the Pope's interdict?

303. Qu. Whether every plea of conscience is to be regarded?Whether, for instance, the German Anabaptists, Levellers, or FifthMonarchy men would be tolerated on that pretence?

304. Qu. Whether Popish children bred in charity schools, when boundout in apprenticeship to Protestant masters, do generally continueProtestants?

305. Qu. Whether a Sum, which would go but a little way towardserecting hospitals for maintaining and educating the children of thenative Irish, might not go far in binding them out apprentices toProtestant masters, for husbandry, useful trades, and the service offamilies?

306. Qu. Whether if the parents are overlooked, there can be anygreat hopes of success in converting the children?

307. Qu. Whether there be any instance, of a people's beingconverted in a Christian sense, otherwise than by preaching to themand instructing them in their own language?

308. Qu. Whether catechists in the Irish tongue may not easily beprocured and subsisted? And whether this would not be the mostpracticable means for converting the natives?

309. Qu. Whether it be not of great advantage to the Church of Rome, that she hath clergy suited to all ranks of men, in gradualsubordination from cardinals down to mendicants?

310. Qu. Whether her numerous poor clergy are not very useful inmissions, and of much influence with the people?

311. Qu. Whether, in defect of able missionaries, persons conversantin low life, and speaking the Irish tongue, if well instructed inthe first principles of religion, and in the popish controversy, though for the rest on a level with the parish clerks, or theschool-masters of charity-schools, may not be fit to mix with andbring over our poor illiterate natives to the Established Church?Whether it is not to be wished that some parts of our liturgy andhomilies were publicly read in the Irish language? And whether, inthese views, it may not be right to breed up some of the better sortof children in the charity-schools, and qualify them formissionaries, catechists, and readers?

312. Qu. Whether there be any nation of men governed by reason? Andyet, if there was not, whether this would be a good argument againstthe use of reason in pubic affairs?

313. Qu. Whether, as others have supposed an Atlantis or Utopia, wealso may not suppose an Hyperborean island inhabited by reasonablecreatures?

314. Qu. Whether an indifferent person, who looks into all hands, may not be a better judge of the game than a party who sees only hisown?

315. Qu. Whether one, whose end is to make his countrymen think, maynot gain his end, even though they should not think as he doth?

316. Qu. Whether he, who only asks, asserts? and whether any man canfairly confute the querist?

317. Qu. Whether the interest of a part will not always be preferredto that of the whole?

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Part II

Query 1. 

Whether there be any country in Christendom more capable ofimprovement than Ireland?

2. Qu. Whether we are not as far before other nations with respectto natural advantages, as we are behind them with respect to artsand industry?

3. Qu. Whether we do not live in a most fertile soil and temperateclimate, and yet whether our people in general do not feel greatwant and misery?

4. Qu. Whether my countrymen are not readier at finding excuses thanremedies?

5. Qu. Whether it can be reasonably hoped, that our state will mend, so long as property is insecure among us?

6. Qu. Whether in that case the wisest government, or the best lawscan avail us?

7. Qu. Whether a few mishaps to particular persons may not throwthis nation into the utmost confusion?

8. Qu. Whether the public is not even on the brink of being undoneby private accidents?

9. Qu. Whether the wealth and prosperity of our country do not hangby a hair, the probity of one banker, the caution of another, andthe lives of all?

10. Qu. Whether we have not been sufficiently admonished of this bysome late events?

11. Qu. Whether therefore it be not high time to open our eyes?

12. Qu. Whether a national bank would not at once secure ourproperties, put an end to usury, facilitate commerce, supply thewant of coin, and produce ready payments in all parts of thekingdom?

13. Qu. Whether the use or nature of money, which all men so eagerlypursue, be yet sufficiently understood or considered by all?

14. Qu. Whether mankind are not governed by Citation rather than byreason?

15. Qu. Whether there be not a measure or limit, within which goldand silver are useful, and beyond which they may be hurtful?

16. Qu. Whether that measure be not the circulating of industry?

17. Qu. Whether a discovery of the richest gold mine that ever was, in the heart of this kingdom, would be a real advantage to us?

18. Qu. Whether it would not tempt foreigners to prey upon us?

19. Qu. Whether it would not render us a lazy, proud, and dastardlypeople?

20. Qu. Whether every man who had money enough would not be agentleman? And whether a nation of gentlemen would not be a wretchednation?

21. Qu. Whether all things would not bear a high price? And whethermen would not increase their fortunes without being the better forit?

22. Qu. Whether the same evils would be apprehended from paper-moneyunder an honest and thrifty regulation?

23. Qu. Whether, therefore, a national bank would not be morebeneficial than even a mine of gold?

24. Qu. Whether private ends are not prosecuted with more attentionand vigour than the public? And yet, whether all private ends arenot included in the pubic?

25. Qu. Whether banking be not absolutely necessary to the pubicweal?

26. Qu. Whether even our private banks, though attended with suchhazards as we all know them to be, are not of singular use in defectof a national bank?

27. Qu. Whether without them what little business and industry thereis would not stagnate? But whether it be not a mighty privilege fora private person to be able to create a hundred pounds with a dashof his pen?

28. Qu. Whether the mystery of banking did not derive its originalfrom the Italians? Whether this acute people were not, upon a time, bankers over all Europe? Whether that business was not practised bysome of their noblest families who made immense profits by it, andwhether to that the house of Medici did not originally owe itsgreatness?

29. Qu. Whether the wise state of Venice was not the first thatconceived the advantage of a national bank?

30. Qu. Whether at Venice all payments of bills of exchange andmerchants' contracts are not made in the national or pubic bank, thegreatest affairs being transacted only by writing the names of theparties, one as debtor the other as creditor in the bank-book?

31. Qu. Whether nevertheless it was not found expedient to provide achest of ready cash for answering all demands that should happen tobe made on account of payments in detail?

32. Qu. Whether this offer of ready cash, instead of transfers inthe bank, hath not been found to augment rather than diminish thestock thereof?

33. Qu. Whether at Venice, the difference in the value of bank moneyabove other money be not fixed at twenty per cent?

34. Qu. Whether the bank of Venice be not shut up four times in theyear twenty days each time?

35. Qu. Whether by means of this bank the public be not mistress ofa million and a half sterling?

36. Qu. Whether the great exactness and integrity with which thisbank is managed be not the chief support of that republic?

37. Qu. Whether we may not hope for as much skill and honesty in aProtestant Irish Parliament as in a Popish Senate of Venice?

38. Qu. Whether the bank of Amsterdam was not begun about onehundred and thirty years ago, and whether at this day its stock benot conceived to amount to three thousand tons of gold, or thirtymillions sterling?

39. Qu. Whether besides coined money, there be not also greatquantities of ingots or bars of gold and silver lodged in this bank?

40. Qu. Whether all payments of contracts for goods in gross, andletters of exchange, must not be made by transfers in thebank-books, provided the sum exceed three hundred florins?

41. Qu. Whether it be not true, that the bank of Amsterdam nevermakes payments in cash?

42. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, it be not also true, that no man whohath credit in the bank can want money from particular persons, whoare willing to become creditors in his stead?

43. Qu. Whether any man thinks himself the poorer, because his moneyis in the bank?

44. Qu. Whether the creditors of the bank of Amsterdam are not atliberty to withdraw their money when they please, and whether thisliberty doth not make them less desirous to use it?

45. Qu. Whether this bank be not shut up twice in the year for tenor fifteen days, during which time the accounts are balanced?

46. Qu. Whether it be not owing to this bank that the city ofAmsterdam, without the least confusion, hazard, or trouble, maintains and every day promotes so general and quick a circulationof industry?

47. Qu. Whether it be not the greatest help and spur to commercethat property can be so readily conveyed and so well secured by acompte en banc, that is, by only writing one man's name foranother's in the bank-book?

48. Qu. Whether, at the beginning of the last century, those who hadlent money to the public during the war with Spain were notsatisfied by the sole expedient of placing their names in a compteen banc, with liberty to transfer their claims?

49. Qu. Whether the example of those easy transfers in the compte enbanc, thus casually erected, did not tempt other men to becomecreditors to the public, in order to profit by the same secure andexpeditious method of keeping and transferring their wealth?

50. Qu. Whether this compte en banc hath not proved better than amine of gold to Amsterdam?

51. Qu. Whether that city may not be said to owe her greatness tothe unpromising accident of her having been in debt more than shewas able to Pay?

52. Qu. Whether it be known that any State from such smallbeginnings, in so short a time, ever grew to so great wealth andpower as the province of Holland hath done; and whether the bank ofAmsterdam hath not been the real cause of such extraordinary growth?

53. Qu. Whether we are by nature a more stupid people than theDutch? And yet whether these things are sufficiently considered byour patriots?

54. Qu. Whether anything less than the utter subversion of thoseRepublics can break the banks of Venice and Amsterdam?

55. Qu. Whether at Hamburgh the citizens have not the management ofthe bank, without the meddling or inspection of the Senate?

56. Qu. Whether the directors be not four principal burghers chosenby plurality of voices, whose business is to see the rules observed, and furnish the cashiers with money?

57. Qu. Whether the book-keepers are not obliged to balance theiraccounts every week, and exhibit them to the controllers ordirectors?

58. Qu. Whether any besides the citizens are admitted to have compteen banc at Hamburgh?

59. Qu. Whether there be not a certain limit, under which no sum canbe entered into the bank?

60. Qu. Whether each particular person doth not pay a fee in orderto be admitted to a compte en banc at Hamburgh and Amsterdam?

61. Qu. Whether the effects lodged in the bank of Hamburgh areliable to be seized for debt or forfeiture?

62. Qu. Whether this bank doth not lend money upon pawns at lowinterest and only for half a year, after which term, in default ofpayment, the pawns are punctually sold by auction?

63. Qu. Whether the book-keepers of the bank of Hamburgh are notobliged upon oath never to reveal what sums of money are paid in orout of the bank, or what effects any particular person has therein?

64. Qu. Whether, therefore, it be possible to know the state orstock of this bank; and yet whether it be not of the greatestreputation and most established credit throughout the North?

65. Qu. Whether the success of those public banks in Venice, Amsterdam and Hamburg would not naturally produce in other States aninclination to the same methods?

66. Qu. Whether an absolute monarchy be so apt to gain credit, andwhether the vivacity of some humours could so well suit with theslow steps and discreet management which a bank requires?

67. Qu. Whether the bank called the general bank of France, contrived by Mr Law, and established by letters patent in May, 1716, was not in truth a particular and not a national bank, being in thehands of a particular company privileged and protected by theGovernment?

68. Qu. Whether the Government did not order that the notes of thisbank should pass on a par with ready money in all payments of therevenue?

69. Qu. Whether this bank was not obliged to issue only such notesas were payable at sight?

70. Qu. Whether it was not made a capital crime to forge the notesof this bank?

71. Qu. Whether this bank was not restrained from trading either bysea or land, and from taking up money upon interest?

72. Qu. Whether the original stock thereof was not six millions oflivres, divided into actions of a thousand crowns each?

73. Qu. Whether the proprietors were not to hold general assembliestwice in the year, for the regulating of their affairs?

74. Qu. Whether the accompts of this bank were not balanced twiceevery year?

75. Qu. Whether there were not two chests belonging to this bank, the one called the general chest containing their specie, theirbills and their copper plates for the printing of those bills, underthe custody of three locks, whereof the keys were kept by thedirector, the inspector and treasurer, also another called theordinary chest, containing part of the stock not exceeding twohundred thousand crowns, under the key of the treasurer?

76. Qu. Whether out of this last mentioned sum, each particularcashier was not to be intrusted with a share not exceeding the valueof twenty thousand crowns at a time, and that under good security?

77. Qu. Whether the Regent did not reserve to himself the power ofcalling this bank to account, so often as he should think good, andof appointing the inspector?

78. Qu. Whether in the beginning of the year 1719 the French Kingdid not convert the general bank of France into a Banque Royale, having himself purchased the stock of the company and taken it intohis own hands, and appointed the Duke of Orleans chief managerthereof?

79. Qu. Whether from that time, all matters relating to the bankwere not transacted in the name, and by the sole authority, of theking?

80. Qu. Whether his Majesty did not undertake to receive and keepthe cash of all particular persons, subjects, or foreigners, in hissaid Royale Banque, without being paid for that trouble? And whetherit was not declared, that such cash should not be liable to seizureon any pretext, not even on the king's own account?

81. Qu. Whether the treasurer alone did not sign all the bills, receive all the stock paid into the bank, and keep account of allthe in-goings and out-goings?

82. Qu. Whether there were not three registers for the enregisteringof the bills kept in the Banque Royale, one by the inspector, another by the controller, and a third by the treasurer?

83. Qu. Whether there was not also a fourth register, containing theprofits of the bank, which was visited, at least once a week, by theinspector and controller?

84. Qu. Whether, beside the general bureau or compter in the city ofParis, there were not also appointed five more in the towns ofLyons, Tours, Rochelle, Orleans, and Amiens, each whereof wasprovided with two chests, one of specie for discharging bills atsight, and another of bank bills to be issued as there should bedemand?

85. Qu. Whether, in the above mentioned towns, it was not prohibitedto make payments in silver, exceeding the sum of six hundred livres?

86. Qu. Whether all creditors were not empowered to demand paymentin bank bills instead of specie?

87. Qu. Whether, in a short compass of time, this bank did notundergo many new changes and regulations by several successive actsof council?

88. Qu. Whether the untimely, repeated, and boundless fabrication ofbills did not precipitate the ruin of this bank?

89. Qu. Whether it be not true, that before the end of July, 1719, they had fabricated four hundred millions of livres in bank-notes, to which they added the sum of one hundred and twenty millions moreon the twelfth of September following, also the same sum of onehundred and twenty millions on the twenty-fourth of 3 October, andagain on the twenty-ninth of December, in the same year, the farthersum of three hundred and sixty millions, making the whole, from anoriginal stock of six millions, mount, within the compass of oneyear, to a thousand millions of livres?

90. Qu. Whether on the twenty-eighth of February, 1720, the king didnot make an union of the bank with the united company of the Eastand West Indies, which from that time had the administration andprofits of the Banque Royale?

91. Qu. Whether the king did not still profess himself responsiblefor the value of the bank bills, and whether the company were notresponsible to his Majesty for their management?

92. Qu. Whether sixteen hundred millions of livres, lent to hismajesty by the company, was not a sufficient pledge to indemnify theking?

93. Qu. Whether the new directors were not prohibited to make anymore bills without an act of council?

94. Qu. Whether the chests and books of the Banque were notsubjected to the joint inspection of a Counsellor of State, and thePrevot des Marchands, assisted by two Echevins, a judge, and aconsul, who had power to visit when they would and without warning?

95. Qu. Whether in less than two years the actions or shares of theIndian Company (first established for Mississippi, and afterwardsincreased by the addition of other compares and further? and whetherthis privileges) did not rise to near 2000 per cent must be ascribedto real advantages of trade, or to mere frenzy?

96. Qu. Whether, from first to last, there were not fabricated bankbills, of one kind or other, to the value of more than two thousandand six hundred millions of livres, or one hundred and thirtymillions sterling?

97. Qu. Whether the credit of the bank did not decline from itsunion with the Indian Company?

98. Qu. Whether, notwithstanding all the above-mentionedextraordinary measures, the bank bills did not still pass at parwith gold and silver to May, 1720, when the French king thought fit, by a new act of council, to make a reduction of their value, whichproved a fatal blow, the effects whereof, though soon retracted, nosubsequent skill or management could ever repair?

99. Qu. Whether, what no reason, reflexion, or foresight could do, this simple matter of fact (the most powerful argument with themultitude) did not do at once, to wit, open the eyes of the people?

100. Qu. Whether the dealers in that sort of ware had ever troubledtheir heads with the nature of credit, or the true use and end ofbanks, but only considered their bills and actions as things, towhich the general demand gave a price?

101. Qu. Whether the Government was not in great perplexity tocontrive expedients for the getting rid of those bank bills, whichhad been lately multiplied with such an unlimited passion?

102. Qu. Whether notes to the value of about ninety millions werenot sunk by being paid off in specie, with the cash of the Compagniedes Indes, with that of the bank, and that of the Hotels desMonnoyes? Whether five hundred and thirty millions were notconverted into annuities at the royal treasury? Whether severalhundred millions more in bank bills were not extinguished andreplaced by annuities on the City of Paris, on taxes throughout theprovinces, &c. , &c?

103. Qu. Whether, after all other shifts, the last and grandresource for exhausting that ocean, was not the erecting of a compteen banc in several towns of France?

104. Qu. Whether, when the imagination of a people is thoroughlywrought upon and heated by their own example, and the arts ofdesigning men, this doth not produce a sort of enthusiasm whichtakes place of reason, and is the most dangerous distemper in aState?

105. Qu. Whether this epidemical madness should not be always beforethe eyes of a legislature, in the framing of a national bank?

106. Qu. Whether, therefore, it may not be fatal to engraft trade ona national bank, or to propose dividends on the stock thereof?

107. Qu. Whether it be possible for a national bank to subsist andmaintain its credit under a French government?

108. Qu. Whether it may not be as useful a lesson to consider thebad management of some as the good management of others?

109. Qu. Whether the rapid and surprising success of the schemes ofthose who directed the French bank did not turn their brains?

110. Qu. Whether the best institutions may not be made subservientto bad ends?

111. Qu. Whether, as the aim of industry is power, and the aim of abank is to circulate and secure this power to each individual, itdoth not follow that absolute power in one hand is inconsistent witha lasting and a flourishing bank?

112. Qu. Whether our natural appetites, as well as powers, are notlimited to their respective ends and uses? But whether artificialappetites may not be infinite?

113. Qu. Whether the simple getting of money, or passing it fromhand to hand without industry, be an object worthy of a wisegovernment?

114. Qu. Whether, if money be considered as an end, the appetitethereof be not infinite? But whether the ends of money itself be notbounded?

115. Qu. Whether the mistaking of the means for the end was not afundamental error in the French councils?

116. Qu. Whether the total sum of all other powers, be it ofenjoyment or action, which belong to man, or to all mankindtogether, is not in truth a very narrow and limited quantity? Butwhether fancy is not boundless?

117. Qu. Whether this capricious tyrant, which usurps the place ofreason, doth not most cruelly torment and delude those poor men, theusurers, stockjobbers, and projectors, of content to themselves fromheaping up riches, that is, from gathering counters, frommultiplying figures, from enlarging denominations, without knowingwhat they would be at, and without having a proper regard to the useor end or nature of things?

118. Qu. Whether the ignis fatuus of fancy doth not kindleimmoderate desires, and lead men into endless pursuits and wildlabyrinths?

119. Qu. Whether counters be not referred to other things, which, solong as they keep pace and proportion with the counters, it must beowned the counters are useful; but whether beyond that to value orcovet counters be not direct folly?

120. Qu. Whether the public aim ought not to be, that men's industryshould supply their present wants, and the overplus be convertedinto a stock of power?

121. Qu. Whether the better this power is secured, and the moreeasily it is transferred, industry be not so much the moreencouraged?

122. Qu. Whether money, more than is expedient for those purposes, be not upon the whole hurtful rather than beneficial to a State?

123. Qu. Whether there should not be a constant care to keep thebills at par?

124. Qu. Whether, therefore, bank bills should at any time bemultiplied but as trade and business were also multiplied?

125. Qu. Whether it was not madness in France to mint bills andactions, merely to humour the people and rob them of their cash?

126. Qu. Whether we may not profit by their mistakes, and as somethings are to be avoided, whether there may not be others worthy ofimitation in the conduct of our neighbours?

127. Qu. Whether the way be not clear and open and easy, and whetheranything but the will is wanting to our legislature?

128. Qu. Whether jobs and tricks are not detested on all hands, butwhether it be not the joint interest of prince and people to promoteindustry?

129. Qu. Whether, all things considered, a national bank be not themost practicable, sure, and speedy method to mend our affairs, andcause industry to flourish among us?

130. Qu. Whether a compte en banc or current bank bills would bestanswer our occasions?

131. Qu. Whether a public compte en banc, where effects arereceived, and accounts kept with particular persons, be not anexcellent expedient for a great city?

132. Qu. What effect a general compte en banc would have in themetropolis of this kingdom with one in each province subordinatethereunto?

133. Qu. Whether it may not be proper for a great kingdom to uniteboth expedients, to wit, bank notes and a compte en banc?

134. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, it would be advisable to begin withboth at once, or rather to proceed first with the bills, andafterwards, as business multiplied, and money or effects flowed in, to open the compte en banc?

135. Qu. Whether, for greater security, double books of compte enbanc should not be kept in different places and hands?

136. Qu. Whether it would not be right to build the compters andpublic treasuries, where books and bank notes are kept, withoutwood, all arched and floored with brick or stone, having chests alsoand cabinets of iron?

137. Qu. Whether divers registers of the bank notes should not bekept in different hands?

138. Qu. Whether there should not be great discretion in theuttering of bank notes, and whether the attempting to do things persaltum be not often the way to undo them?

139. Qu. Whether the main art be not by slow degrees and cautiousmeasures to reconcile the bank to the public, to wind it insensiblyinto the affections of men, and interweave it with the constitution?

140. Qu. Whether the promoting of industry should not be always inview, as the true and sole end, the rule and measure, of a nationalbank? And whether all deviations from that object should not becarefully avoided?

141. Qu. Whether a national bank may not prevent the drawing ofspecie out of the country (where it circulates in small payments), to be shut up in the chests of particular persons?

142. Qu. Whether it may not be useful, for supplying manufacturesand trade with stock, for regulating exchange, for quickeningcommerce, for putting spirit into the people?

143. Qu. Whether tenants or debtors could have cause to complain ofour monies being reduced to the English value if it were withalmultiplied in the same, or in a greater proportion? and whether thiswould not be the consequence of a nation al bank?

144. Qu. If there be an open sure way to thrive, without hazard toourselves or prejudice to our neighbours, what should hinder us fromputting it in practice?

145. Qu. Whether in so numerous a Senate, as that of this kingdom, it may not be easie to find men of pure hands and clear heads fit tocontrive and model a public bank?

146. Qu. Whether a view of the precipice be not sufficient, orwhether we must tumble headlong before we are roused?

147. Qu. Whether in this drooping and dispirited country, men arequite awake?

148. Qu. Whether we are sufficiently sensible of the peculiarsecurity there is in having a bank that consists of land and paper, one of which cannot be exported, and the other is in no danger ofbeing exported?

149. Qu. Whether it be not delightful to complain? And whether therebe not many who had rather utter their complaints than redress theirevils?

150. Qu. Whether, if 'the crown of the wise be their riches' (Prov. , xiv. 24), we are not the foolishest people in Christendom?

151. Qu. Whether we have not all the while great civil as well asnatural advantages?

152. Qu. Whether there be any people who have more leisure tocultivate the arts of peace, and study the public weal?

153. Qu. Whether other nations who enjoy any share of freedom, andhave great objects in view, be not unavoidably embarrassed anddistracted by factions? But whether we do not divide upon trifles, and whether our parties are not a burlesque upon politics?

154. Qu. Whether it be not an advantage that we are not embroiled inforeign affairs, that we hold not the balance of Europe, that we areprotected by other fleets and armies, that it is the true interestof a powerful people, from whom we are descended, to guard us on allsides?

155. Qu. Whether England doth not really love us and wish well tous, as bone of her bone, and flesh of her flesh? And whether it benot our part to cultivate this love and affection all manner ofways?

156. Qu. Whether, if we do not reap the benefits that may be made ofour country and government, want of will in the lower people, orwant of wit in the upper, be most in fault?

157. Qu. What sea-ports or foreign trade have the Swisses; and yethow warm are those people, and how well provided?

158. Qu. Whether there may not be found a people who so contrive asto be impoverished by their trade? And whether we are not thatpeople?

159. Qu. Whether it would not be better for this island, if all ourfine folk of both sexes were shipped off, to remain in foreigncountries, rather than that they should spend their estates at homein foreign luxury, and spread the contagion thereof through theirnative land?

160. Qu. Whether our gentry understand or have a notion ofmagnificence, and whether for want thereof they do not affect verywretched distinctions?

161. Qu. Whether there be not an art or skill in governing humanpride, so as to render it subservient to the pubic aim?

162. Qu. Whether the great and general aim of the public should notbe to employ the people?

163. Qu. What right an eldest son hath to the worst education?

164. Qu. Whether men's counsels are not the result of theirknowledge and their principles?

165. Qu. Whether an assembly of freethinkers, petit maitres, andsmart Fellows would not make an admirable Senate?

166. Qu. Whether there be not labour of the brains as well as of thehands, and whether the former is beneath a gentleman?

167. Qu. Whether the public be more interested to protect theproperty acquired by mere birth than that which is the Mediate fruitof learning and vertue?

168. Qu. Whether it would not be a poor and ill-judged project toattempt to promote the good of the community, by invading the rightsof one part thereof, or of one particular order of men?

169. Qu. Whether the public happiness be not proposed by thelegislature, and whether such happiness doth not contain that of theindividuals?

170. Qu. Whether, therefore, a legislator should be content with avulgar share of knowledge? Whether he should not be a person ofreflexion and thought, who hath made it his study to understand thetrue nature and interest of mankind, how to guide men's humours andpassions, how to incite their active powers, how to make theirseveral talents co-operate to the mutual benefit of each other, andthe general good of the whole?

171. Qu. Whether it doth not follow that above all things agentleman's care should be to keep his own faculties sound andentire?

172. Qu. Whether the natural phlegm of this island needs anyadditional stupefier?

173. Qu. Whether all spirituous liquors are not in truth opiates?

174. Qu. Whether our men of business are not generally very grave byfifty?

175. Qu. Whether there be really among us any parents so silly, asto encourage drinking in their children?

176. Qu. Whence it is, that our ladies are more alive, and bear ageso much better than our gentlemen?

177. Qu. Whether all men have not faculties of mind or body whichmay be employed for the public benefit?

178. Qu. Whether the main point be not to multiply and employ ourpeople?

179. Qu. Whether hearty food and warm clothing would not enable andencourage the lower sort to labour?

180. Qu. Whether, in such a soil as ours, if there was industry, there could be want?

181. Qu. Whether the way to make men industrious be not to let themtaste the fruits of their industry? And whether the labouring oxshould be muzzled?

182. Qu. Whether our landlords are to be told that industry andnumbers would raise the value of their lands, or that one acre aboutthe Tholsel is worth ten thousand acres in Connaught?

183. Qu. Whether our old native Irish are not the most indolent andsupine people in Christendom?

184. Qu. Whether they are yet civilized, and whether theirhabitations and furniture are not more sordid than those of thesavage Americans?

185. Qu. Whether this be altogether their own fault?

186. Qu. Whether it be not a sad circumstance to live among lazybeggars? And whether, on the other hand, it would not be delightfulto live in a country swarming, like China, with busy people?

187. Qu. Whether we should not cast about, by all manner of means, to excite industry, and to remove whatever hinders it? And whetherevery one should not lend a helping hand?

188. Qu. Whether vanity itself should not be engaged in this goodwork? And whether it is not to be wished that the finding ofemployment for themselves and others were a fashionable distinctionamong the ladies?

189. Qu. Whether idleness be the mother or the daughter of spleen?

190. Qu. Whether it may not be worth while to publish theconversation of Ischomachus and his wife in Xenophon, for the use ofour ladies?

191. Qu. Whether it is true that there have been, upon a time, onehundred millions of people employed in China, without the woollentrade, or any foreign commerce?

192. Qu. Whether the natural inducements to sloth are not greater inthe Mogul's country than in Ireland, and yet whether, in thatsuffocating and dispiriting climate, the Banyans are not all, men, women, and children, constantly employed?

193. Qu. Whether it be not true that the great Mogul's subjectsmight undersell us even in our own markets, and clothe our peoplewith their stuffs and calicoes, if they were imported duty free?

194. Qu. Whether there can be a greater reproach on the leading menand the patriots of a country, than that the people should wantemployment? And whether methods may not be found to employ even thelame and the blind, the dumb, the deaf, and the maimed, in some orother branch of our manufactures?

195. Qu. Whether much may not be expected from a biennialconsultation of so many wise men about the public good?

196. Qu. Whether a tax upon dirt would not be one way of encouragingindustry?

197. Qu. Whether it may not be right to appoint censors in everyparish to observe and make returns of the idle hands?

198. Qu. Whether a register or history of the idleness and industryof a people would be an useless thing?

199. Qu. Whether we are apprized, of all the uses that may be madeof political arithmetic?

200. Qu. Whether it would be a great hardship if every parish wereobliged to find work for their poor?

201. Qu. Whether children especially should not be inured to labourbetimes?

202. Qu. Whether there should not be erected, in each province, anhospital for orphans and foundlings, at the expense of oldbachelors?

203. Qu. Whether it be true that in the Dutch workhouses things areso managed that a child four years old may earn its own livelihood?

204. Qu. What a folly is it to build fine houses, or establishlucrative posts and large incomes, under the notion of providing forthe poor?

205. Qu. Whether the poor, grown up and in health, need any otherprovision but their own industry, under public inspection?

206. Qu. Whether the poor-tax in England hath lessened or increasedthe number of the poor?

207. Qu. Why the workhouse in Dublin, with so good an endowment, should yet be of so little use? and whether this may not be owing tothat very endowment?

208. Qu. Whether that income might not, by this time, have gonethrough the whole kingdom, and erected a dozen workhouses in everycounty?

209. Qu. Whether workhouses should not be made at the least expense, with clay floors, and walls of rough stone, without plastering, ceiling, or glazing?

210. Qu. Whether the tax on chairs or hackney coaches be not paid, rather by the country gentlemen, than the citizens of Dublin?

211. Qu. Whether it be an impossible attempt to set our people atwork, or whether industry be a habit which, like other habits, mayby time and skill be introduced among any people?

212. Qu. Whether all manner of means should not be employed topossess the nation in general with an aversion and contempt foridleness and all idle folk?

213. Qu. Whether it would be a hardship on people destitute of allthings, if the public furnished them with necessaries which theyshould be obliged to earn by their labour?

214. Qu. Whether other nations have not found great benefit from theuse of slaves in repairing high roads, making rivers navigable, draining bogs, erecting public buildings, bridges, and manufactures?

215. Qu. Whether temporary servitude would not be the best cure foridleness and beggary?

216. Qu. Whether the public hath not a right to employ those whocannot or who will not find employment for themselves?

217. Qu. Whether all sturdy beggars should not be seized and madeslaves to the public for a certain term of years?

218. Qu. Whether he who is chained in a jail or dungeon hath not, for the time, lost his liberty? And if so, whether temporary slaverybe not already admitted among us?

219. Qu. Whether a state of servitude, wherein he should be wellworked, fed, and clothed, would not be a preferment to such afellow?

220. Qu. Whether criminals in the freest country may not forfeittheir liberty, and repair the damage they have done the public byhard labour?

221. Qu. What the word 'servant' signifies in the New Testament?

222. Qu. Whether the view of criminals chained in pairs and kept athard labour would not be very edifying to the multitude?

223. Qu. Whether the want of such an institution be not plainly seenin England, where the disbelief of a future state hardeneth roguesagainst the fear of death, and where, through the great growth ofrobbers and housebreakers, it becomes every day more necessary?

224. Qu. Whether it be not easier to prevent than to remedy, andwhether we should not profit by the example of others?

225. Qu. Whether felons are not often spared, and thereforeencouraged, by the compassion of those who should prosecute them?

226. Qu. Whether many that would not take away the life of a thiefmay not nevertheless be willing to bring him to a more adequatepunishment?

227. Qu. Whether there should not be a difference between thetreatment of criminals and that of other slaves?

228. Qu. Whether the most indolent would be fond of idleness, ifthey regarded it as the sure road to hard labour?

229. Qu. Whether the industry of the lower part of our people dothnot much depend on the expense of the upper?

230. Qu. What would be the consequence if our gentry affected todistinguish themselves by fine houses rather than fine clothes?

231. Qu. Whether any people in Europe are so meanly provided withhouses and furniture, in proportion to their incomes, as the men ofestates in Ireland?

232. Qu. Whether building would not peculiarly encourage all otherarts in this kingdom?

233. Qu. Whether smiths, masons, bricklayers, plasterers, carpenters, joiners, tilers, plumbers, and glaziers would not allfind employment if the humour of building prevailed?

234. Qu. Whether the ornaments and furniture of a good house do notemploy a number of all sorts of artificers, in iron, wood, marble, brass, pewter, copper, wool, flax, and divers other materials?

235. Qu. Whether in buildings and gardens a great number ofday-labourers do not find employment?

236. Qu. Whether by these means much of that sustenance and wealthof this nation which now goes to foreigners would not be kept athome, and nourish and circulate among our own people?

237. Qu. Whether, as industry produced good living, the number ofhands and mouths would not be increased; and in proportionthereunto, whether there would not be every day more occasion foragriculture? And whether this article alone would not employ a worldof people?

238. Qu. Whether such management would not equally provide for themagnificence of the rich, and the necessities of the poor?

239. Qu. Whether an expense in building and improvements doth notremain at home, pass to the heir, and adorn the public? And whetherany of those things can be said of claret?

240. Qu. Whether fools do not make fashions, and wise men followthem?

241. Qu. Whether, for one who hurts his fortune by improvements, twenty do not ruin themselves by foreign luxury?

242. Qu. Whether in proportion as Ireland was improved andbeautified by fine seats, the number of absentees would notdecrease?

243. Qu. Whether he who employs men in buildings and manufacturesdoth not put life in the country, and whether the neighbourhoodround him be not observed to thrive?

244. Qu. Whether money circulated on the landlord's own lands, andamong his own tenants, doth not return into his own pocket?

245. Qu. Whether every squire that made his domain swarm with busyhands, like a bee-hive or ant-hill, would not serve his owninterest, as well as that of his country?

246. Qu. Whether a gentleman who hath seen a little of the world, and observed how men live elsewhere, can contentedly sit down in acold, damp, sordid habitation, in the midst of a bleak country, inhabited by thieves and beggars?

247. Qu. Whether, on the other hand, a handsome seat amidstwell-improved lands, fair villages, and a thriving neighbourhood maynot invite a man to dwell on his own estate, and quit the life of aninsignificant saunterer about town for that of a usefulcountry-gentleman?

248. Qu. Whether it would not be of use and ornament if the townsthroughout this kingdom were provided with decent churches, townhouses, workhouses, market-places, and paved streets, with someorder taken for cleanliness?

249. Qu. Whether, if each of these towns were addicted to somepeculiar manufacture, we should not find that the employing manyhands together on the same work was the way to perfect our workmen?And whether all these things might not soon be provided by adomestic industry, if money were not wanting?

250. Qu. Whether money could ever be wanting to the demands ofindustry, if we had a national bank?

251. Qu. Whether when a motion was made once upon a time toestablish a private bank in this kingdom by public authority, diversgentlemen did not shew themselves forward to embark in that design?

252. Qu. Whether it may not now be hoped, that our patriots will beas forward to examine and consider the proposal of a public bankcalculated only for the public good?

253. Qu. Whether any people upon earth shew a more early zeal forthe service of their country, greater eagerness to bear a part inthe legislature, or a more general parturiency with respect topolitics and public counsels?

254. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, a light and ludicrous vein be notthe reigning humour; but whether there was ever greater cause to beserious?

FINIS. 

ERRATUM

Qu. 168, for Indulg'd, read ill judg'd. 

Part III

Query 1. 

Whether the fable of Hercules and the carter ever suited anynation like this nation of Ireland?

2. Qu. Whether it be not a new spectacle under the sun, to behold, in such a climate and such a soil, and under such a gentlegovernment, so many roads untrodden, fields untilled, housesdesolate, and hands unemployed?

3. Qu. Whether there is any country in Christendom, either kingdomor republic, depending or independent, free or enslaved, which maynot afford us a useful lesson?

4. Qu. Whether the frugal Swisses have any other commodities buttheir butter and cheese and a few cattle, for exportation; whether, nevertheless, the single canton of Berne hath not in her publictreasury two millions sterling?

5. Qu. Whether that small town of Berne, with its scanty barrenterritory, in a mountainous corner, without sea-ports, withoutmanufactures, without mines, be not rich by mere dint of frugality?

6. Qu. Whether the Swisses in general have not sumptuary laws, prohibiting the use of gold, jewels, silver, silk, and lace in theirapparel, and indulging the women only to wear silk on festivals, weddings, and public solemnities?

7. Qu. Whether there be not two ways of growing rich, sparing andgetting? But whether the lazy spendthrift must not be doubly poor?

8. Qu. Whether money circulating be not the life of industry; andwhether the want thereof doth not render a State gouty and inactive?

9. Qu. But whether, if we had a national bank, and our present cash(small as it is) were put into the most convenient shape, men shouldhear any public complaints for want of money?

10. Qu. Whether all circulation be not alike a circulation ofcredit, whatsoever medium (metal or paper) is employed, and whethergold be any more than credit for so much power?

11. Qu. Whether the wealth of the richest nations in Christendomdoth not consist in paper vastly more than in gold and silver?

12. Qu. Whether Lord Clarendon doth not aver of his own knowledge, that the Prince of Orange, with the best credit, and the assistanceof the richest men in Amsterdam, was above ten days endeavouring toraise L20, 000 in specie, without being able to raise half the sum inall that time? (See Clarendon's History, BK. XII)

13. Qu. Whether the whole city of Amsterdam would not have beentroubled to have brought together twenty thousand pounds in oneroom?

14. Qu. Whether it be not absolutely necessary that there must be abank and must be a trust? And, if so, whether it be not the mostsafe and prudent course to have a national bank and trust thelegislature?

15. Qu. Whether objections against trust in general avail, when itis allowed there must be a trust, and the only question is where toplace this trust, whether in the legislature or in private hands?

16. Qu. Whether it can be expected that private persons should havemore regard to the public than the public itself?

17. Qu. Whether, if there be hazards from mismanagement, those maynot be provided against in the framing of a pubic bank; but whetherany provision can be made against the mismanagement of private banksthat are under no check, control, or inspection?

18. Qu. Whatever may be said for the sake of objecting, yet, whetherit be not false in fact, that men would prefer a private security toa public security?

19. Qu. Whether a national bank ought to be considered as a newexperiment; and whether it be not a motive to try this scheme thatit hath been already tried with success in other countries?

20. Qu. If power followeth money, whether this can be anywhere moreproperly and securely placed, than in the same hands wherein thesupreme power is already placed?

21. Qu. Whether there be more danger of abuse in a private than in apublic management?

22. Qu. Whether the proper usual remedy for abuses of private banksbe not to bring them before Parliament, and subject them to theinspection of a committee; and whether it be not more prudent toprevent than to redress an evil?

23. Qu. Supposing there had been hitherto no such thing as a bank, and the question were now first proposed, whether it would be saferto circulate unlimited bills in a private credit, or bills to alimited value on the public credit of the community, what would menthink?

24. Qu. Whether experience and example be not the plainest proof;and whether any instance can be assigned where a national bank hathnot been attended with great advantage to the public?

25. Qu. Whether the evils apprehended from a national bank are notmuch more to be apprehended from private banks; but whether men bycustom are not familiarized and reconciled to common dangers, whichare therefore thought less than they really are?

26. Qu. Whether it would not be very hard to suppose all sense, honesty, and public spirit were in the keeping of only a few privatemen, and the public was not fit to be trusted?

27. Qu. Whether it be not ridiculous to suppose a legislature shouldbe afraid to trust itself?

28. Qu. But, whether a private interest be not generally supportedand pursued with more zeal than a public?

29. Qu. Whether the maxim, 'What is everybody's business isnobody's, ' prevails in any country under the sun more than inIreland?

30. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, the community of danger, which lullsprivate men asleep, ought not to awaken the public?

31. Qu. Whether there be not less security where there are moretemptations and fewer checks?

32. Qu. If a man is to risk his fortune, whether it be more prudentto risk it on the credit of private men, or in that of the greatassembly of the nation?

33. Qu. Where is it most reasonable to expect wise and punctualdealing, whether in a secret impenetrable recess, where creditdepends on secrecy, or in a public management regulated andinspected by Parliament?

34. Qu. Whether a supine security be not catching, and whethernumbers running the same risk, as they lessen the caution, may notincrease the danger?

35. Qu. What real objection lies against a national bank erected bythe legislature, and in the management of public deputies, appointedand inspected by the legislature?

36. Qu. What have we to fear from such a bank, which may not be aswell feared without it?

37. Qu. How, why, by what means, or for what end, should it becomean instrument of oppression?

38. Qu. Whether we can possibly be on a more precarious foot than weare already? Whether it be not in the power of any particular personat once to disappear and convey himself into foreign parts? orwhether there can be any security in an estate of land when thedemands upon it are unknown?

39. Qu. Whether the establishing of a national bank, if we suppose aconcurrence of the government, be not very practicable?

40. Qu. But, whether though a scheme be never so evidentlypracticable and useful to the pubic, yet, if conceived to interferewith a private interest, it be not forthwith in danger of appearingdoubtful, difficult, and impracticable?

41. Qu. Whether the legislative body hath not already sufficientpower to hurt, if they may be supposed capable of it, and whether abank would give them any new power?

42. Qu. What should tempt the pubic to defraud itself?

43. Qu. Whether, if the legislature destroyed the public, it wouldnot be felo de se; and whether it be reasonable to suppose it benton its own destruction?

44. Qu. Whether the objection to a pubic national bank, from want ofsecrecy, be not in truth an argument for it?

45. Qu. Whether the secrecy of private banks be not the very thingthat renders them so hazardous? and whether, without that, therecould have been of late so many sufferers?

46. Qu. Whether when all objections are answered it be stillincumbent to answer surmises?

47. Qu. Whether it were just to insinuate that gentlemen would beagainst any proposal they could not turn into a job?

48. Qu. Suppose the legislature passed their word for any privatebanker, and regularly visited his books, would not money lodged inhis bank be therefore reckoned more secure?

49. Qu. In a country where the legislative body is not fit to betrusted, what security can there be for trusting any one else?

50. Qu. If it be not ridiculous to question whether the pubic canfind cash to circulate bills of a limited value when private bankersare supposed to find enough to circulate them to an unlimited value?

51. Qu. Whether the united stock of a nation be not the bestsecurity? And whether anything but the ruin of the State can producea national bankruptcy?

52. Qu. Whether the total sum of the public treasure, power, andwisdom, all co-operating, be not most likely to establish a bank ofcredit, sufficient to answer the ends, relieve the wants, andsatisfy the scruples of all people?

53. Qu. Whether those hazards that in a greater degree attendprivate banks can be admitted as objections against a public one?

54. Qu. Whether that which is an objection to everything be anobjection to anything; and whether the possibility of an abuse benot of that kind?

55. Qu. Whether, in fact, all things are not more or less abused, and yet notwithstanding such abuse, whether many things are not uponthe whole expedient and useful?

56. Qu. Whether those things that are subject to the most generalinspection are not the least subject to abuse?

57. Qu. Whether, for private ends, it may not be sometimes expedientto object novelty to things that have been often tried, difficultyto the plainest things, and hazard to the safest?

58. Qu. Whether some men will not be apt to argue as if the questionwas between money and credit, and not (as in fact it is) which oughtto be preferred, private credit or public credit?

59. Qu. Whether they will not prudently overlook the evils felt, orto be feared, on one side?

60. Qu. Whether, therefore, those that would make an impartialjudgment ought not to be on their guard, keeping both prospectsalways in view, balancing the inconveniencies on each side andconsidering neither absolutely?

61. Qu. Whether wilful mistakes, examples without a likeness, andgeneral addresses to the passions are not often more successful thanarguments?

62. Qu. Whether there be not an art to puzzle plain cases as well asto explain obscure ones?

63. Qu. Whether private men are not often an over-match for thepublic; want of weight being made up for by activity?

64. Qu. If we suppose neither sense nor honesty in our leaders orrepresentatives, whether we are not already undone, and so havenothing further to fear?

65. Qu. Suppose a power in the government to hurt the pubic by meansof a national bank, yet what should give them the will to do this?Or supposing a will to do mischief, yet how could a national bank, modelled and administered by Parliament, put it in their power?

66. Qu. Whether even a wicked will entrusted with power can besupposed to abuse it for no end?

67. Qu. Whether it be not much more probable that those who makethsuch objections do not believe them?

68. Qu. Whether it be not vain to object that our fellow-subjects ofGreat Britain would malign or obstruct our industry when it isexerted in a way which cannot interfere with their own?

66. Qu. Whether it is to be supposed they should take delight in thedirt and nakedness and famine of our people, or envy them shoes fortheir feet and beef for their belies?

70. Qu. What possible handle or inclination could our having anational bank give other people to distress us?

71. Qu. Whether it be not ridiculous to conceive that a project forcloathing and feeding our natives should give any umbrage toEngland?

72. Qu. Whether such unworthy surmises are not the pure effect ofspleen?

73. Qu. Whether London is not to be considered as the metropolis ofIreland? And whether our wealth (such as it is) doth not circulatethrough London and throughout all England, as freely as that of anypart of his Majesty's dominions?

74. Qu. Whether therefore it be not evidently the interest of thepeople of England to encourage rather than to oppose a national bankin this kingdom, as well as every other means for advancing ourwealth which shall not impair their own?

75. Qu. Whether it is not our interest to be useful to them ratherthan rival them; and whether in that case we may not be sure oftheir good offices?

76. Qu. Whether we can propose to thrive so long as we entertain awrongheaded distrust of England?

77. Qu. Whether, as a national bank would increase our industry, andthat our wealth, England may not be a proportionable gainer; andwhether we should not consider the gains of our mother-country assome accession to our own?

78. Qu. Whether the Protestant colony in this kingdom can everforget what they owe to England?

79. Qu. Whether there ever was in any part of the world a country insuch wretched circumstances, and which, at the same time, could beso easily remedied, and nevertheless the remedy not applied?

80. Qu. What must become of a people that can neither see theplainest things nor do the easiest?

81. Qu. Be the money lodged in the bank what it will, yet whether anAct to make good deficiencies would not remove all scruples?

82. Qu. If it be objected that a national bank must lower interest, and therefore hurt the monied man, whether the same objection wouldnot hold as strong against multiplying our gold and silver?

83. Qu. But whether a bank that utters bills, with the sole view ofpromoting the public weal, may not so proportion their quantity asto avoid several inconveniencies which might attend private banks?

84. Qu. Whether there be any difficulty in comprehending that thewhole wealth of the nation is in truth the stock of a national bank?And whether any more than the right comprehension of this benecessary to make all men easy with regard to its credit?

85. Qu. Whether any Thing be more reasonable than that the pubic, which makes the whole profit of the bank, should engage to make goodits credit?

86. Qu. Whether the prejudices about gold and silver are not strong, but whether they are not still prejudices?

87. Qu. Whether paper doth not by its stamp and signature acquire alocal value, and become as precious and as scarce as gold? Andwhether it be not much fitter to circulate large sums, and thereforepreferable to gold?

88. Qu. Whether, in order to make men see and feel, it be not oftennecessary to inculcate the same thing, and place it in differentlights?

89. Qu. Whether it doth not much import to have a right conceptionof money? And whether its true and just idea be not that of aticket, entitling to power, and fitted to record and transfer suchpower?

90. Qu. Whether the managers and officers of a national bank oughtto be considered otherwise than as the cashiers and clerks ofprivate banks? Whether they are not in effect as little trusted, have as little power, are as much limited by rules, and as liable toinspection?

91. Qu. Whether the mistaking this point may not create someprejudice against a national bank, as if it depended on the credit, or wisdom, or honesty, of private men, rather than on the pubic, which is really the sole proprietor and director thereof, and assuch obliged to support it?

92. Qu. Though the bank of Amsterdam doth very rarely, if at all, pay out money, yet whether every man possess'd of specie be notready to convert it into paper, and act as cashier to the bank? Andwhether, from the same motive, every monied man throughout thiskingdom would not be cashier to our national bank?

93. Qu. Whether a national bank would not be the great means andmotive for employing our poor in manufactures?

94. Qu. Whether money, though lent out only to the rich, would notsoon circulate among the poor? And whether any man borrows but withan intent to circulate?

95. Qu. Whether both government and people would not in the event begainers by a national bank? And whether anything but wrongconceptions of its nature can make those that wish well to eitheraverse from it?

96. Qu. Whether it may not be right to think, and to have itthought, that England and Ireland, prince and people, have one andthe same interest?

97. Qu. Whether, if we had more means to set on foot suchmanufactures and such commerce as consists with the interest ofEngland, there would not of course be less sheep-walk, and less woolexported to foreign countries? And whether a national bank would notsupply such means?

98. Qu. Whether we may not obtain that as friends which it is invain to hope for as rivals?

99. Qu. Whether in every instance by which we prejudice England, wedo not in a greater degree prejudice ourselves? See Part II. Qu. 153and 154. 

100. Qu. Whether in the rude original of society the first step wasnot the exchanging of commodities; the next a substituting of metalsby weight as the common medium of circulation; after this the makinguse of coin; lastly, a further refinement by the use of paper withproper marks and signatures? And whether this, as it is the last, soit be not the greatest improvement?

101. Qu. Whether we are not in fact the only people who may be saidto starve in the midst of plenty?

102. Qu. Whether business in general doth not languish among us?Whether our land is not untilled? Whether its inhabitants are notupon the wing?

103. Qu. Whether there can be a worse sign than that people shouldquit their country for a livelihood? Though men often leave theircountry for health, or pleasure, or riches, yet to leave it merelyfor a livelihood, whether this be not exceeding bad, and shewethsome peculiar mismanagement?

104. Qu. Whether our circumstances do not call aloud for somepresent remedy? And whether that remedy be not in our power?

105. Qu. Whether, in order to redress our evils, artificial helpsare not most wanted in a land where industry is most against thenatural grain of the people?

106. Qu. Whether, of all the helps to industry that ever wereinvented, there be any more secure, more easy, and more effectualthan a national bank?

107. Qu. Whether medicines do not recommend themselves byexperience, even though their reasons be obscure? But whether reasonand fact are not equally clear in favour of this political medicine?

108. Qu. Whether, although the prepossessions about gold and silverhave taken deep root, yet the example of our Colonies in Americadoth not make it as plain as day-light that they are not sonecessary to the wealth of a nation as the vulgar of all ranksimagine?

109. Qu. Whether it be not evident that we may maintain a muchgreater inward and outward commerce, and be five times richer thanwe are, nay, and our bills abroad be of far greater credit, thoughwe had not one ounce of gold or silver in the whole island?

110. Qu. Whether wrongheaded maxims, customs, and fashions are notsufficient to destroy any people which hath so few resources as theinhabitants of Ireland. 

111. Qu. Whether it would not be a horrible thing to see our matronsmake dress and play their chief concern?

112. Qu. Whether our ladies might not as well endow monasteries aswear Flanders lace? And whether it be not true that Popish nuns aremaintained by Protestant contributions?

113. Qu. Whether England, which hath a free trade, whatever sheremits for foreign luxury with one hand, doth not with the otherreceive much more from abroad? Whether, nevertheless, this nationwould not be a gainer, if our women would content themselves withthe same moderation in point of expense as the English ladies?

114. Qu. But whether it be not a notorious truth that our Irishladies are on a foot, as to dress, with those of five times theirfortune in England?

115. Qu. Whether it be not even certain that the matrons of thisforlorn country send out a greater proportion of its wealth, forfine apparel, than any other females on the whole surface of thisterraqueous globe?

116. Qu. Whether the expense, great as it is, be the greatest evil;but whether this folly may not produce many other follies, an entirederangement of domestic life, absurd manners, neglect of duties, badmothers, a general corruption in both sexes?

117. Qu. Whether therefore a tax on all gold and silver in apparel, on all foreign laces and silks, may not raise a fund for the bank, and at the same time have other salutary effects on the public?

118. Qu. But, if gentlemen had rather tax themselves in another way, whether an additional tax of ten shillings the hogshead on wines maynot supply a sufficient fund for the national bank, all defects tobe made good by Parliament?

119. Qu. Whether upon the whole it may not be right to appoint anational bank?

120. Qu. Whether the stock and security of such bank would not be, in truth, the national stock, or the total sum of the wealth of thiskingdom?

121. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, there should not be a particularfund for present use in answering bills and circulating credit?

122. Qu. Whether for this end any fund may not suffice, provided anAct be passed for making good deficiencies?

123. Qu. Whether the sole proprietor of such bank should not be thepublic, and the sole director the legislature?

124. Qu. Whether the managers, officers, and cashiers should not beservants of the pubic, acting by orders and limited by rules of thelegislature?

125. Qu. Whether there should not be a standing number ofinspectors, one-third men in great office, the rest members of bothhouses, half whereof to go out, and half to come in every session?

126. Qu. Whether those inspectors should not, all in a body, visittwice a year, and three as often as they pleased?

127. Qu. Whether the general bank should not be in Dublin, andsubordinate banks or compters one in each province of Munster, Ulster, and Connaught?

128. Qu. Whether there should not be such provisions of stamps, signatures, checks, strong boxes, and all other measures forsecuring the bank notes and cash, as are usual in other banks?

129. Qu. Whether these ten or a dozen last queries may not easily beconverted into heads of a bill?

130. Qu. Whether any one concerns himself about the security orfunds of the banks of Venice or Amsterdam? And whether in a littletime the case would not be the same as to our bank?

131. Qu. Whether the first beginning of expedients do not alwaysmeet with prejudices? And whether even the prejudices of a peopleought not to be respected?

132. Qu. Whether a national bank be not the true philosopher's stonein a State?

133. Qu. Whether it be not the most obvious remedy for all theinconveniencies we labour under with regard to our coin?

134. Qu. Whether it be not agreed on all hands that our coin is onvery bad foot, and calls for some present remedy?

135. Qu. Whether the want of silver hath not introduced a sort oftraffic for change, which is purchased at no inconsiderable discountto the great obstruction of our domestic commerce?

136. Qu. Whether, though it be evident silver is wanted, it be yetso evident which is the best way of providing for this want? Whetherby lowering the gold, or raising the silver, or partly one, partlythe other?

137. Qu. Whether a partial raising of one species be not, in truth, wanting a premium to our bankers for importing such species? Andwhat that species is which deserves most to be encouraged?

138. Qu. Whether it be not just, that all gold should be alike ratedaccording to its weight and fineness?

139. Qu. Whether this may be best done, by lowering some certainspecies of gold, or by raising others, or by joining both methodstogether?

140. Qu. Whether all regulations of coin should not be made with aview to encourage industry, and a circulation of commerce, throughout the kingdom?

141. Qu. Whether the North and the South have not, in truth, one andthe same interest in this matter?

142. Qu. Whether to oil the wheels of commerce be not a commonbenefit? And whether this be not done by avoiding fractions andmultiplying small silver?

143. Qu. But, whether a pubic benefit ought to be obtained by unjustmethods, and therefore, whether any reduction of coin should bethought of which may hurt the properties of private men?

144. Qu. Whether those parts of the kingdom where commerce doth mostabound would not be the greatest gainers by having our coin placedon a right foot?

145. Qu. Whether, in case a reduction of coin be thought expedient, the uttering of bank bills at the same time may not prevent theinconveniencies of such a reduction?

146. Qu. But, whether any pubic expediency could countervail a realpressure on those who are least able to bear it, tenants anddebtors?

147. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, the political body, as well as thenatural, must not sometimes be worse in order to be better?

148. Qu. Whether, all things considered, a general raising the valueof gold and silver be not so far from bringing greater quantitiesthereof into the kingdom that it would produce a direct contraryeffect, inasmuch as less, in that case, would serve, and thereforeless be wanted? And whether men do not import a commodity inproportion to the demand or want of it?

149. Qu. Whether the lowering of our gold would not create a feverin the State? And whether a fever be not sometimes a cure, butwhether it be not the last cure a man would choose?

150. Qu. What if our other gold were raised to a par with Portugalgold, and the value of silver in general raised with regard to thatof gold?

151. Qu. Whether the pubic ends may or may not be better answered bysuch augmentation, than by a reduction of our coin?

152. Qu. Provided silver is multiplied, be it by raising ordiminishing the value of our coin, whether the great end is notanswered?

153. Qu. Whether raising the value of a particular species will nottend to multiply such species, and to lessen others in proportionthereunto? And whether a much less quantity of cash in silver wouldnot, in reality, enrich the nation more than a much greater in gold?

154. Qu. Whether, if a reduction be thought necessary, the obviousmeans to prevent all hardships and injustice be not a national bank?

155. Qu. Upon supposition that the cash of this kingdom was fivehundred thousand pounds, and by lowering the various species eachone-fifth of its value the whole sum was reduced to four hundredthousand pounds, whether the difficulty of getting money, andconsequently of paying rents, would not be increased in theproportion of five to four?

156. Qu. Whether such difficulty would not be a great and unmeriteddistress on all the tenants in the nation? But if at the same timewith the aforesaid reduction there were uttered one hundred thousandpounds additional to the former current stock, whether suchdifficulty or inconvenience would then be felt?

157. Qu. Whether, ceteris paribus, it be not true that the prices ofthings increase as the quantity of money increaseth, and arediminished as that is diminished? And whether, by the quantity ofmoney is not to be understood the amount of the denominations, allcontracts being nominal for pounds, shillings, and pence, and notfor weights of gold or silver?

158. Qu. Whether in any foreign market, twopence advance in akilderkin of corn could greatly affect our trade?

159. Qu. Whether in regard of the far greater changes andfluctuations of prices from the difference of seasons and otheraccidents, that small rise should seem considerable?

160. Qu. Whether our exports do not consist of such necessaries asother countries cannot well be without?

161. Qu. Whether upon the circulation of a national bank more landwould not be tilled, more hands employed, and consequently morecommodities exported?

162. Qu. Whether, setting aside the assistance of a national bank, it will be easy to reduce or lower our coin without some hardship(at least for the present) on a great number of particular persons?

163. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, the scheme of a national bank dothnot entirely stand clear of this question; and whether such bank maynot completely subsist and answer its ends, although there should beno alteration at all made in the value of our coin?

164. Qu. Whether, if the ill state of our coin be not redressed, that scheme would not be still more necessary, inasmuch as anational bank, by putting new life and vigour into our commerce, mayprevent our feeling the ill effects of the want of such redress?

165. Qu. Whether men united by interest are not often divided byopinion; and whether such difference in opinion be not an effect ofmisapprehension?

166. Qu. Whether two things are not manifest, first, that somealteration in the value of our coin is highly expedient, secondly, that whatever alteration is made, the tenderest care should be hadof the properties of the people, and even a regard paid to theirprejudices?

167. Qu. Whether our taking the coin of another nation for more thanit is worth be not, in reality and in event, a cheat upon ourselves?

168. Qu. Whether a particular coin over-rated will not be sure toflow in upon us from other countries beside that where it is coined?

169. Qu. Whether, in case the wisdom of the nation shall think fitto alter our coin, without erecting a national bank, the rule forlessening or avoiding present inconvenience should not be so toorder matters, by raising the silver and depressing the gold, asthat the total sum of coined cash within the kingdom shall, indenomination, remain the same, or amount to the same nominal value, after the change that it did before?

170. Qu. Whether all inconvenience ought not to be lessened as muchas may be; but after, whether it would be prudent, for the sake of asmall inconvenience, to obstruct a much greater good? And whether itmay not sometimes happen that an inconvenience which in fancy andgeneral discourse seems great shall, when accurately inspected andcast up, appear inconsiderable?

171. Qu. Whether in public councils the sum of things, here andthere, present and future, ought not to be regarded?

172. Qu. Whether silver and small money be not that which circulatesthe quickest, and passeth through all hands, on the road, in themarket, at the shop?

173. Qu. Whether, all things considered, it would not be better fora kingdom that its cash consisted of half a million in small silver, than of five times that sum in gold?

174. Qu. Whether there be not every day five hundred lesser paymentsmade for one that requires gold?

175. Qu. Whether Spain, where gold bears the highest value, be notthe laziest, and China, where it bears the lowest, be not the mostindustrious country in the known world?

176. Qu. Money being a ticket which entitles to power and recordsthe title, whether such power avails otherwise than as it is exertedinto act?

177. Qu. Whether it be not evidently the interest of every State, that its money should rather circulate than stagnate?

178. Qu. Whether the principal use of cash be not its ready passingfrom hand to hand, to answer common occasions of the common people, and whether common occasions of all sorts of people are not smallones?

179. Qu. Whether business at fairs and markets is not often at astand and often hindered, even though the seller hath hiscommodities at hand and the purchaser his gold, yet for want ofchange?

180. Qu. Whether beside that value of money which is rated byweight, there be not also another value consisting in its aptness tocirculate?

181. Qu. As wealth is really power, and coin a ticket conveyingpower, whether those tickets which are the fittest for that useought not to be preferred?

182. Qu. Whether those tickets which singly transfer small shares ofpower, and, being multiplied, large shares, are not fitter forcommon use than those which singly transfer large shares?

183. Qu. Whether the public is not more benefited by a shilling thatcirculates than a pound that lies dead?

184. Qu. Whether sixpence twice paid be not as good as a shillingonce paid?

185. Qu. Whether the same shilling circulating in a village may notsupply one man with bread, another with stockings, a third with aknife, a fourth with paper, a fifth with nails, and so answer manywants which must otherwise have remained unsatisfied?

186. Qu. Whether facilitating and quickening the circulation ofpower to supply wants be not the promoting of wealth and industryamong the lower people? And whether upon this the wealth of thegreat doth not depend?

187. Qu. Whether, without the proper means of circulation, it be notvain to hope for thriving manufacturers and a busy people?

188. Qu. Whether four pounds in small cash may not circulate andenliven an Irish market, which many four-pound pieces would permitto stagnate?

189. Qu. Whether a man that could move nothing less than ahundred-pound weight would not be much at a loss to supply hiswants; and whether it would not be better for him to be less strongand more active?

190. Qu. Whether the natural body can be in a state of health andvigour without a due circulation of the extremities, even? Andwhether the political body, any in the fingers and toes more thanthe natural, can thrive without a proportionable circulation throughthe minutest and most inconsiderable parts thereof?

191. Qu. If we had a mint for coining only shillings, sixpences, andcopper-money, whether the nation would not soon feel the goodeffects thereof?

192. Qu. Whether the greater waste by wearing of small coins wouldnot be abundantly overbalanced by their usefulness?

193. Qu. Whether it be not the industry of common people that feedsthe State, and whether it be possible to keep this industry alivewithout small money?

194. Qu. Whether the want of this be not a great bar to ouremploying the people in these manufactures which are open to us, anddo not interfere with Great Britain?

195. Qu. Whether therefore such want doth not drive men into thelazy way of employing land under sheep-walk?

196. Qu. Whether the running of wool from Ireland can so effectuallybe prevented as by encouraging other business and manufactures amongour people?

197. Qu. Whatever commodities Great Britain importeth which we mightsupply, whether it be not her real interest to import them from usrather than from any other people?

198. Qu. Whether the apprehension of many among us (who for thatvery reason stick to their wool), that England may hereafterprohibit, limit, or discourage our linen trade, when it hath beenonce, with great pains and expense, thoroughly introduced andsettled in this land, be not altogether groundless and unjust?

199. Qu. Whether it is possible for this country, which hath neithermines of gold nor a free trade, to support for any time the sendingout of specie?

200. Qu. Whether in fact our payments are not made by bills? Andwhether our foreign credit doth not depend on our domestic industry, and our bills on that credit?

201. Qu. Whether, in order to mend it, we ought not first to knowthe peculiar wretchedness of our state? And whether there be anyknowing of this but by comparison?

202. Qu. Whether there are not single market towns in England thatturn more money in buying and selling than whole counties (perhapsprovinces) with us?

203. Qu. Whether the small town of Birmingham alone doth not, uponan average, circulate every week, one way or other, to the value offifty thousand pounds? But whether the same crown may not be oftenpaid?

204. Qu. Whether there be any woollen manufacture in Birmingham?

205. Qu. Whether bad management may not be worse than slavery? Andwhether any part of Christendom be in a more languishing conditionthan this kingdom?

206. Qu. Whether any kingdom in Europe be so good a customer atBordeaux as Ireland?

207. Qu. Whether the police and economy of France be not governed bywise councils? And whether any one from this country, who sees theirtowns, and manufactures, and commerce, will not wonder what oursenators have been doing?

208. Qu. What variety and number of excellent manufactures are to bemet with throughout the whole kingdom of France?

209. Qu. Whether there are not everywhere some or other mills formany uses, forges and furnaces for iron-work, looms for tapestry, glass-houses, and so forth?

210. Qu. What quantities of paper, stockings, hats; whatmanufactures of wool, silk, linen, hemp, leather, wax, earthenware, brass, lead, tin, &c?

211. Qu. Whether the manufactures and commerce of the single town ofLyons do not amount to a greater value than all the manufactures andall the trade of this kingdom taken together?

212. Qu. Whether it be not true, that within the compass of one yearthere flowed from the South Sea, when that commerce was open, intothe single town of St. Malo's, a sum in gold and silver equal tofour times the whole specie of this kingdom? And whether that samepart of France doth not at present draw from Cadiz, upwards of twohundred thousand pounds per annum?

213. Qu. Whether, in the anniversary fair at the small town ofBeaucaire upon the Rhone, there be not as much money laid out as thecurrent cash of this kingdom amounts to?

214. Qu. Whether it be true that the Dutch make ten millions oflivres, every return of the flota and galleons, by their sales atthe Indies and at Cadiz?

215. Qu. Whether it be true that England makes at least one hundredthousand pounds per annum by the single article of hats sold inSpain?

216. Qu. Whether the very shreds shorn from woollen cloth, which arethrown away in Ireland, do not make a beautiful tapestry in France?

217. Qu. Whether the toys of Thiers do not employ five thousandfamilies?

218. Qu. Whether there be not a small town Or two in France whichsupply all Spain with cards?

219. Qu. Whether there be not French towns subsisted merely bymaking pins?

220. Qu. Whether the coarse fingers of those very women, those samepeasants who one part of the year till the ground and dress thevineyards, are not another employed in making the finest Frenchpoint?

221. Qu. Whether there is not a great number of idle fingers amongthe wives and daughters of our peasants?

222. Qu. Whether, about twenty-five years ago, they did not firstattempt to make porcelain in France; and whether, in a few years, they did not make it so well, as to rival that which comes fromChina?

223. Qu. Whether the French do not raise a trade from saffron, dyeing drugs, and the like products, which may do with us as well aswith them?

224. Qu. Whether we may not have materials of our own growth tosupply all manufactures, as well as France, except silk, and whetherthe bulk of what silk even France manufactures be not imported?

225. Qu. Whether it be possible for this country to grow rich, solong as what is made by domestic industry is spent in foreignluxury?

226. Qu. Whether part of the profits of the bank should not beemployed in erecting manufactures of several kinds, which are notlikely to be set on foot and carried on to perfection without greatstock, public encouragement, general regulations, and theconcurrence of many hands?

227. Qu. Whether our natural Irish are not partly Spaniards andpartly Tartars, and whether they do not bear signatures of theirdescent from both these nations, which is also confirmed by alltheir histories?

228. Qu. Whether the Tartar progeny is not numerous in this land?And whether there is an idler occupation under the sun than toattend flocks and herds of cattle?

229. Qu. Whether the wisdom of the State should not wrestle withthis hereditary disposition of our Tartars, and with a high handintroduce agriculture?

230. Qu. Whether it were not to be wished that our people shewedtheir descent from Spain, rather by their honour and honesty thantheir pride, and if so, whether they might not easily insinuatethemselves into a larger share of the Spanish trade?

231. Qu. Whether once upon a time France did not, by her linenalone, draw yearly from Spain about eight millions of livres?

232. Qu. Whether the French have not suffered in their linen tradewith Spain, by not making their cloth of due breadth; and whetherany other people have suffered, and are still likely to suffer, through the same prevarication?

233. Qu. Whether the Spaniards are not rich and lazy, and whetherthey have not a particular inclination and favour for theinhabitants of this island? But whether a punctual people do notlove punctual dealers?

234. Qu. Whether about fourteen years ago we had not come into aconsiderable share of the linen trade with Spain, and what put astop to this?

235. Qu. Whether we may not, with common industry and commonhonesty, undersell any nation in Europe?

236. Qu. Whether, if the linen manufacture were carried on in theother provinces as well as in the North, the merchants of Cork, Limerick, and Galway would not soon find the way to Spain?

237. Qu. Whether the woollen manufacture of England is not dividedinto several parts or branches, appropriated to particular places, where they are only or principally manufactured; fine cloths inSomersetshire, coarse in Yorkshire, long ells at Exeter, saies atSudbury, crapes at Norwich, linseys at Kendal, blankets at Witney, and so forth?

238. Qu. Whether the united skill, industry, and emulation of manytogether on the same work be not the way to advance it? And whetherit had been otherwise possible for England to have carried on herwoollen manufacture to so great perfection?

239. Qu. Whether it would not on many accounts be right if weobserved the same course with respect to our linen manufacture; andthat diapers were made in one town or district, damasks in another, sheeting in a third, fine wearing linen in a fourth, coarse in afifth, in another cambrics, in another thread and stockings, inothers stamped linen, or striped linen, or tickings, or dyed linen, of which last kinds there is so great a consumption among theseafaring men of all nations?

240. Qu. Whether it may not be worth while to inform ourselves ofthe different sorts of linen which are in request among differentpeople?

241. Qu. Whether we do not yearly consume of French wines about athousand tuns more than either Sweden or Denmark, and yet whetherthose nations pay ready money as we do?

242. Qu. Whether they are not the Swiss that make hay and gather inthe harvest throughout Alsatia?

243. Qu. Whether it be not a custom for some thousands of Frenchmento go about the beginning of March into Spain, and having tilled thelands and gathered the harvest of Spain, to return home with moneyin their pockets about the end of November?

244. Qu. Whether of late years our Irish labourers do not carry onthe same business in England to the great discontent of many there?But whether we have not much more reason than the people of Englandto be displeased at this commerce?

245. Qu. Whether, notwithstanding the cash supposed to be broughtinto it, any nation is, in truth, a gainer by such traffic?

246. Qu. Whether the industry of our people employed in foreignlands, while our own are left uncultivated, be not a great loss tothe country?

247. Qu. Whether it would not be much better for us, if, instead ofsending our men abroad, we could draw men from the neighbouringcountries to cultivate our own?

248. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, we are not apt to think the moneyimported by our labourers to be so much clear gains to this country, but whether a little reflexion and a little political arithmetic maynot shew us our mistake?

249. Qu. Whether our prejudices about gold and silver are not veryapt to infect or misguide our judgments and reasonings about thepublic weal?

250. Qu. Whether it be not a good rule whereby to judge of the tradeof any city, and its usefulness, to observe whether there is acirculation through the extremities, and whether the people roundabout are busy and warm?

251. Qu. Whether we had not, some years since, a manufacture of hatsat Athlone, and of earthenware at Arklow, and what became of thosemanufactures?

252. Qu. Why we do not make tiles of our own, for flooring androofing, rather than bring them from Holland?

253. Qu. What manufactures are there in France and Venice ofgilt-leather, how cheap and how splendid a furniture?

254. Qu. Whether we may not, for the same use, manufacture diversthings at home of more beauty and variety than wainscot, which isimported at such expense from Norway?

255. Qu. Whether the use and the fashion will not soon make amanufacture?

256. Qu. Whether, if our gentry used to drink mead and cider, weshould not soon have those liquors in the utmost perfection andplenty?

257. Qu. Whether it be not wonderful that with such pastures, and somany black cattle, we do not find ourselves in cheese?

258. Qu. Whether great profits may not be made by fisheries; butwhether those of our Irish who live by that business do not contriveto be drunk and unemployed one half of the year?

259. Qu. Whether it be not folly to think an inward commerce cannotenrich a State, because it doth not increase its quantity of goldand silver? And whether it is possible a country should? not thrive, while wants are supplied, and business goes on?

260. Qu. Whether plenty of all the necessaries and comforts of lifebe not real wealth?

261. Qu. Whether Lyons, by the advantage of her midland situationand the rivers Rhone and Saone, be not a great magazine or mart forinward commerce? And whether she doth not maintain a constant tradewith most parts of France; with Provence for oils and dried fruits, for wines and cloth with Languedoc, for stuffs with Champagne, forlinen with Picardy, Normandy, and Brittany, for corn with Burgundy?

262. Qu. Whether she doth not receive and utter all thosecommodities, and raise a profit from the distribution thereof, aswell as of her own manufactures, throughout the kingdom of France?

263. Qu. Whether the charge of making good roads and navigablerivers across the country would not be really repaid by an inwardcommerce?

264. Qu. Whether, as our trade and manufactures increased, magazinesshould not be established in proper places, fitted by theirsituation, near great roads and navigable rivers, lakes, or canals, for the ready reception and distribution of all sorts of commoditiesfrom and to the several parts of the kingdom; and whether the townof Athlone, for instance, may not be fitly situated for such amagazine, or centre of domestic commerce?

265. Qu. Whether an inward trade would not cause industry toflourish, and multiply the circulation of our coin, and whether thismay not do as well as multiplying the coin itself?

266. Qu. Whether the benefits of a domestic commerce aresufficiently understood and attended to; and whether the causethereof be not the prejudiced and narrow way of thinking about goldand silver?

267. Qu. Whether there be any other more easy and unenvied method ofincreasing the wealth of a people?

268. Qu. Whether we of this island are not from our peculiarcircumstances determined to this very commerce above any other, fromthe number of necessaries and good things that we possess withinourselves, from the extent and variety of our soil, from thenavigable rivers and good roads which we have or may have, at a lessexpense than any people in Europe, from our great plenty ofmaterials for manufactures, and particularly from the restraints welie under with regard to our foreign trade?

269. Qu. Whether commissioners of trade or other proper personsshould not be appointed to draw up plans of our commerce bothforeign and domestic, and lay them at the beginning of every sessionbefore the Parliament?

270. Qu. Whether registers of industry should not be kept, and thepubic from time to time acquainted what new manufactures areintroduced, what increase or decrease of old ones?

271. Qu. Whether annual inventories should not be published of thefairs throughout the kingdom, in order to judge of the growth of itscommerce?

272. Qu. Whether there be not every year more cash circulated at thecard tables of Dublin than at all the fairs of Ireland?

273. Qu. Whether the wealth of a country will not bear proportion tothe skill and industry of its inhabitants?

274. Qu. Whether foreign imports that tend to promote industryshould not be encouraged, and such as have a tendency to promoteluxury should not be discouraged?

275. Qu. Whether the annual balance of trade between Italy and Lyonsbe not about four millions in favour of the former, and yet, whetherLyons be not a gainer by this trade?

276. Qu. Whether the general rule, of determining the profit of acommerce by its balance, doth not, like other general rules, admitof exceptions?

277. Qu. Whether it would not be a monstrous folly to import nothingbut gold and silver, supposing we might do it, from every foreignpart to which we trade? And yet, whether some men may not think thisfoolish circumstance a very happy one?

278. Qu. But whether we do not all see the ridicule of the Mogul'ssubjects, who take from us nothing but our silver, and bury it underground, in order to make sure thereof against the resurrection?

279. Qu. Whether he must not be a wrongheaded patriot or politician, whose ultimate view was drawing money into a country, and keeping itthere?

280. Qu. Whether it be not evident that not gold but industrycauseth a country to flourish?

281. Qu. Whether it would not be a silly project in any nation tohope to grow rich by prohibiting the exportation of gold and silver?

282. Qu. Whether there can be a greater mistake in politics than tomeasure the wealth of the nation by its gold and silver?

283. Qu. Whether gold and silver be not a drug, where they do notpromote industry? Whether they be not even the bane and undoing ofan idle people?

284. Qu. Whether gold will not cause either industry or vice toflourish? And whether a country, where it flowed in without labour, must not be wretched and dissolute like an island inhabited bybuccaneers?

285. Qu. Whether arts and vertue are not likely to thrive, wheremoney is made a means to industry? But whether money without thiswould be a blessing to any people?

286. Qu. Whether therefore Mississippi, South Sea, and such likeschemes were not calculated for pubic ruin?

287. Qu. Whether keeping cash at home, or sending it abroad, just asit most serves to promote industry, be not the real interest ofevery nation?

288. Qu. Whether commodities of all kinds do not naturally flowwhere there is the greatest demand? Whether the greatest demand fora thing be not where it is of most use? Whether money, like otherthings, hath not its proper use? Whether this use be not tocirculate? Whether therefore there must not of course be money wherethere is a circulation of industry?

289. Qu. Whether all such princes and statesmen are not greatlydeceived who imagine that gold and silver, any way got, will enricha country?

290. Qu. Whether it is not a great point to know what we would beat? And whether whole States, as well as private persons, do notoften fluctuate for want of this knowledge?

291. Qu. Whether gold may not be compared to Sejanus's horse, if weconsider its passage through the world, and the fate of thosenations which have been successively possess'd thereof?

292. Qu. Whether the effect is not to be considered more than thekind or quantity of money?

293. Qu. Whether means are not so far useful as they answer the end?And whether, in different circumstances, the same ends are notobtained by different means?

294. Qu. If we are a poor nation, abounding with very poor people, will it not follow that a far greater proportion of our stock shouldbe in the smallest and lowest species than would suit with England?

295. Qu. Whether, therefore, it would not be highly expedient if ourmoney were coined of peculiar values, best fitted to thecircumstances and uses of our own country; and whether any otherpeople could take umbrage at our consulting our own convenience, inan affair entirely domestic, and that lies within ourselves?

296. Qu. Whether every man doth not know, and hath not long known, that the want of a mint causeth many other wants in this kingdom?

297. Qu. What harm did England sustain about three centuries ago, when silver was coined in this kingdom?

298. Qu. What harm was it to Spain that her provinces of Naples andSicily had all along mints of their own?

299. Qu. Whether those who have the interests of this kingdom atheart, and are concerned in the councils thereof, ought not to makethe most humble and earnest representations to his Majesty, that hemay vouchsafe to grant us that favour, the want of which is ruinousto our domestic industry, and the having of which would interferewith no interest of our fellow-subjects?

300. Qu. Whether it may not be presumed that our not having aprivilege which every other kingdom in the world enjoys, be notowing to our want of diligence and unanimity in soliciting for it?

301. Qu. Whether his most gracious Majesty hath ever been addressedon this head in a proper manner, and had the case fairly stated forhis royal consideration, and if not, whether we may not blameourselves?

302. Qu. If his Majesty would be pleased to grant us a mint, whetherthe consequences thereof may not prove a valuable consideration tothe crown?

303. Qu. Whether it be not the interest of England that we shouldcultivate a domestic commerce among ourselves? And whether it couldgive them any possible jealousy, if our small sum of cash wascontrived to go a little further, if there was a little more life inour markets, a little more buying and selling in our shops, a littlebetter provision for the backs and bellies of so many forlornwretches throughout the towns and villages of this island?

304. Qu. Whether Great Britain ought not to promote the prosperityof her Colonies, by all methods consistent with her own? And whetherthe Colonies themselves ought to wish or aim at it by others?

305. Qu. Whether the remotest parts from the metropolis, and thelowest of the people, are not to be regarded as the extremities andcapillaries of the political body?

306. Qu. Whether, although the capillary vessels are small, yetobstructions in them do not produce great chronical diseases?

307. Qu. Whether faculties are not enlarged and improved byexercise?

308. Qu. Whether the sum of the faculties put into act, or, in otherwords, the united action of a whole people, doth not constitute themomentum of a State?

309. Qu. Whether such momentum be not the real stock or wealth of aState; and whether its credit be not proportional thereunto?

310. Qu. Whether in every wise State the faculties of the mind arenot most considered?

311. Qu. Whether every kind of employment or business, as it impliesmore skill and exercise of the higher powers, be not more valued?

312. Qu. Whether the momentum of a State doth not imply the wholeexertion of its faculties, intellectual and corporeal; and whetherthe latter without the former could act in concert?

313. Qu. Whether the divided force of men, acting singly, would notbe a rope of sand?

314. Qu. Whether the particular motions of the members of a State, in opposite directions, will not destroy each other, and lessen themomentum of the whole; but whether they must not conspire to producea great effect?

315. Qu. Whether the ready means to put spirit into this State, tofortify and increase its momentum, would not be a national bank, andplenty of small cash?

316. Qu. Whether private endeavours without assistance from thepublic are likely to advance our manufactures and commerce to anygreat degree? But whether, as bills uttered from a national bankupon private mortgages would facilitate the purchases and projectsof private men, even so the same bills uttered on the publicsecurity alone may not answer pubic ends in promoting new works andmanufactures throughout the kingdom?

317. Qu. Whether that which employs and exerts the force of acommunity deserves not to be well considered and well understood?

318. Qu. Whether the immediate mover, the blood and spirits, be notmoney, paper, or metal; and whether the soul or will of thecommunity, which is the prime mover that governs and directs thewhole, be not the legislature?

319. Qu. Supposing the inhabitants of a country quite sunk in sloth, or even fast asleep, whether, upon the gradual awakening andexertion, first of the sensitive and locomotive faculties, next ofreason and reflexion, then of justice and piety, the momentum ofsuch country or State would not, in proportion thereunto, becomestill more and more considerable?

320. Qu. Whether that which in the growth is last attained, and isthe finishing perfection of a people, be not the first thing lost intheir declension?

321. Qu. Whether force be not of consequence, as it is exerted; andwhether great force without great wisdom may not be a nuisance?

322. Qu. Whether the force of a child, applied with art, may notproduce greater effects than that of a giant? And whether a smallstock in the hands of a wise State may not go further, and producemore considerable effects, than immense sums in the hands of afoolish one?

323. Qu. Whether as many as wish well to their country ought not toaim at increasing its momentum?

324. Qu. Whose fault is it if poor Ireland still continues poor?

FINIS

ERRATA. 

Page 4. Line 13 for Silklace, read Silk, Lace, p. 30 l. 7 r. 61Prices. P. 32 l. 21 r. To be. P. 39, l. 8 r. As Mills.