THE QUERIST, &c.
Query I.

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 Sort are well fed, cloathed, 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 employ neither Heads nor Hands for the common Benefit, deſerve not to be expel⯑led like Drones out of a well governed State?

4. Qu. Whether the four Elements, and Man's Labour therein, be not the true Source of Wealth?

[4] 5. Qu. Whether Money be not only ſo far uſeful, as it ſtirreth up Induſtry, enabling Men mutually to participate the Fruits of each others Labour?

6. Qu. Whether any other Means, equal⯑ly conducing to excite and circulate the In⯑duſtry of Mankind, may not be as uſeful as Money?

7. Qu. Whether the real End and Aim of Men be not Power? And whether he who could have every Thing elſe at his Wiſh or Will, would value Money?

8. Qu. Whether the public Aim in every well govern'd State be not, that each Member, according to his juſt Pretenſions and Induſtry, ſhould have Power?

9. Qu. Whether Power be not referred to Action; and whether Action doth not follow Appetite or Will?

10. Qu. Whether Faſhion doth not create Appetites, and whether the prevailing Will of a Nation is not the Faſhion?

11. Qu. Whether the Current of Induſtry and Commerce be not determin'd by this pre⯑vailing Will?

[5] 12. Qu. Whether it be not owing to Cu⯑ſtom that moſt Faſhions are agreeable?

13. Qu. Whether it may not concern the Wiſdom of the Legiſlature to interpoſe in the making of Faſhions; and not leave an Affair of ſo great influence, to the management of Women and Fops and Taylors and Vintners?

14. Qu. Whether reaſonable Faſhions are a greater reſtraint on Freedom than thoſe which are unreaſonable?

15. Qu. Whether a general good Taſte in a People would not greatly conduce to their thriving? And whether an uneducated Gen⯑try be not the greateſt of national Evils?

16. Qu. Whether Cuſtoms and Faſhions do not ſupply the Place of Reaſon, in the Vulgar of all Ranks? Whether, therefore, it doth not very much import that they ſhould be wiſely framed?

17. Qu. Whether the imitating thoſe Neighbours in our Faſhions, to whom we bear no likeneſs in our Circumſtances, be not one cauſe of Diſtreſs to this Nation?

18. Qu. Whether frugal Faſhions in the upper Rank, and comfortable living in the [6] lower, be not the Means to multiply Inha⯑bitants?

19. Qu. Whether the bulk of our Iriſh Natives are not kept from thriving, by that cynical Content in Dirt and Beggary, which they poſſeſs to a Degree beyond any other People in Chriſtendom?

20. Qu. Whether the creating of Wants be not the likelieſt way to produce Induſtry in a People? And whether if our Peaſants were accuſtomed to eat Beef and wear Shoes they would not be more Induſtrious?

21. Qu. Whether other Things being giv⯑en, as Climate, Soil, &c. the Wealth be not proportioned to the Induſtry, and this to the Circulation of Credit, be the Credit cir⯑culated or transferred by what Marks or To⯑kens ſo ever?

22. Qu. Whether therefore leſs Money ſwiftly circulating be not, in effect, equivalent to more Money ſlowly circulating? Or whe⯑ther if the Circulation be reciprocally as the Quantity of Coin, the Nation can be a Loſer?

23. Qu. Whether Money is to be conſider⯑ed as having an intrinſic Value, or as being a Commodity, a Standard, a Meaſure, or a Pledge, as is variouſly ſuggeſted by Writers? [7] And whether the true Idea of Money, as ſuch, be not altogether that of a Ticket or Counter?

24. Qu. Whether the Value or Price of Things, be not a compounded Proportion, di⯑rectly as the Demand, and reciprocally as the Plenty?

25. Qu. Whether the Terms Crown, Li⯑vre, Pound Sterling, &c. are not to be con⯑ſidered as Exponents or Denominations of ſuch Proportion? and whether Gold, Silver, and Paper, are not Tickets or Counters for Reckoning, Recording, and Transferring thereof?

26. Qu. Whether the Denominations be⯑ing retained, although the Bullion were gone, Things might not nevertheleſs be rated, bought and ſold, Induſtry promoted, and a Circula⯑tion of Commerce maintained?

27. Qu. Whether an equal raiſing of all Sorts of Gold, Silver, and Copper Coin can have any effect in bringing Money into the Kingdom? And whether altering the Propor⯑tions between the ſeveral Sorts can have any other effect, but multiplying one Kind and leſſening another, without any increaſe of the Sum total?

[8] 28. Qu. Whether arbitrary changing the Denomination of Coin, be not a public Cheat?

29. Qu. Whether nevertheleſs the Damage would be very conſiderable, if by Degrees our Money were brought back to the Engliſh Va⯑lue, there to reſt for ever?

30. Qu. Whether the Engliſh Crown did not formerly paſs with us for ſix Shillings? And what Inconvenience enſued to the Public, upon its Reduction to the preſent Value, and whether what hath been may not be?

31. Qu. What makes a wealthy People? And whether Mines of Gold and Silver are capable of doing this? Whether Negroes amidſt the Gold Sands of Afric are not poor and deſtitute?

32. Qu. Whether there be any Vertue in Gold or Silver, other than as they ſet People at Work, or create Induſtry?

33. Qu. Whether it be not the Opinion or Will of the People, exciting them to In⯑duſtry, that truly enricheth a Nation? And whether this doth not principally depend on the Means for counting, transferring and pre⯑ſerving Power, that is, property of all Kinds?

[9] 34. Qu. Whether if there was no Silver in the Kingdom, our Trade might not never⯑theleſs ſupply Bills of Exchange, ſufficient to anſwer the Demands of Abſentees in England or elſewhere?

35. Qu. Whether current Bank Notes may not be deemed Money? And whether they are not actually the greater part of the Money of this Kingdom?

36. Qu. Provided the Wheels move, whe⯑ther 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 real Wealth? And whether Money be not in Truth, Tickets or Tokens for conveying and recording ſuch Power, and whether it be of great Conſequence what Materials the Tickets are made of?

38. Qu. Whether Trade, either foreign or domeſtick, be in Truth any more than this Commerce of Induſtry?

39. Qu. Whether to promote, transfer, and ſecure this Commerce, and this Property in human Labour, or, in other Words, this Power, be not the ſole Means of enriching a [10] People, and how far this may be done inde⯑pendently of Gold and Silver?

40. Qu. Whether it were not wrong to ſuppoſe Land it ſelf to be Wealth? And whe⯑ther the Induſtry of the People is not firſt to be conſider'd, as that which conſtitutes Wealth, which makes even Land and Silver to be Wealth, neither of which would have any Value, but as Means and Motives to Indu⯑ſtry?

41. Qu. Whether in the Waſtes of Ame⯑rica a Man might not poſſeſs twenty Miles ſquare of Land, and yet want his Dinner or a Coat to his Back?

42. Qu. Whether a fertile Land, and the Induſtry of its Inhabitants, would not prove inexhauſtable Funds of real Wealth, be the Counters for conveying and recording thereof what you will, Paper, Gold, or Silver?

43. Qu. Whether a ſingle Hint be ſuffi⯑cient 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, it doth not follow that Idleneſs ſhould of all things be diſcourag'd in a wiſe State?

[11] 45. Qu. Whether even Gold or Silver, if they ſhould leſſen the Induſtry of its Inhabi⯑tants, would not be ruinous to a Country? And whether Spain be not an Inſtance of this?

46. Qu. Whether the Opinion of Men, and their Induſtry conſequent thereupon, be not the true Wealth of Holland, and not the Silver ſuppoſed to be depoſited in the Bank at Amſterdam?

47. Qu. Whether there is in Truth any ſuch Treaſure lying dead? And whether it be of great conſequence to the Public, that it ſhould be real rather than notional?

48. Qu. Whether in order to underſtand the true Nature of Wealth and Commerce, it would not be right to conſider a Ship's Crew caſt upon a deſert Iſland, and by De⯑grees forming themſelves to Buſineſs and ci⯑vil Life; while Induſtry begot Credit, and Credit moved to Induſtry?

49. Qu. Whether ſuch Men would not all ſet themſelves to Work? Whether they would not ſubſiſt by the mutual Participation of each others Induſtry? Whether when one Man had in his Way procured more than he could conſume, he would not exchange his Superfluities to ſupply his Wants? Whe⯑ther this muſt not produce Credit? Whether [12] to facilitate theſe Conveyances, to record and circulate this Credit, they would not ſoon agree on certain Tallies, Tokens, Tickets or Counters?

50. Qu. Whether Reflection in the better Sort might not ſoon remedy our Evils? And whether our real Defect be not a wrong Way of Thinking?

51. Qu. Whether it would not be an un⯑happy Turn in our Gentlemen, if they ſhould take more Thought to create an Intereſt to themſelves in this or that County or Borough, than to promote the real Intereſt of 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 firſt Place provide a Plan which governs his Work? and ſhall the Pub⯑lic act without an End, a View, a Plan?

54. Qu. Whether by how much the leſs particular Folk think for themſelves, the Public be not ſo much the more obliged to think for them?

55. Qu. Whether Cunning be not one thing and good Senſe another? And whether [13] a cunning Tradeſman doth not ſtand in his own Light?

56. Qu. Whether ſmall Gains be not the way to great Profit? And if our Tradeſmen are Beggars, whether they may not thank themſelves for it?

57. Qu. Whether ſome way might not be found for making Criminals uſeful 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, contrive Employment for them? And whether Servitude, Chains and hard Labour, for a term of Years, would not be a more diſcouraging, as well as a more adequate Puniſhment for Felons, than even Death itſelf.

59. Qu. Whether there are not ſuch Things in Holland as bettering Houſes for bringing young Gentlemen to Order? And whether ſuch an Inſtitution might be uſeleſs among us?

60. Qu. Whether it be true, that the Poor in Holland have no Reſource but their own Labour, and yet there are no Beggars in their Streets?

[14] 61. Qu. Whether he whoſe Luxury con⯑ſumeth foreign Products, and whoſe Induſtry produceth nothing domeſtic to Exchange for them, is not ſo far forth injurious to his Coun⯑try?

62. Qu. Whether, conſequently, the fine Gentlemen, whoſe Employment is only to dreſs, drink, and play, be not a public Nui⯑ſance?

63. Qu. Whether Neceſſity is not to be hearkened to before Convenience, and Conve⯑nience before Luxury?

64. Qu. Whether to provide plentifully for the Poor, be not feeding the Root, the Subſtance whereof will ſhoot upwards into the Branches, 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, helpleſs, and ſlothful?

67. Qu. Whether a Country inhabited by People well fed, cloathed, and lodged, would not become every Day more populous? And [15] whether a numerous Stock of People in ſuch Circumſtances would not conſtitute a flouriſh⯑ing Nation; and how far the Product of our own Country may ſuffice for the compaſſing of this End?

68. Qu. Whether a People, who had pro⯑vided themſelves with the Neceſſaries of Life in good Plenty, would not ſoon extend their Induſtry to new Arts and new Branches of Commerce?

69. Qu. Whether thoſe ſame Manufactures which England imports from other Countries may not be admitted from Ireland? And if ſo whether Lace, Carpets, and Tapeſtry, three conſiderable Articles of Engliſh Impor⯑tation, might not find Encouragment in Ire⯑land? And whether an Academy for De⯑ſign might not greatly conduce to the perfect⯑ing thoſe Manufactures among us?

70. Qu. Whether France and Flanders could have drawn ſo much Money from Eng⯑land, for figured Silks, Lace, and Tapeſtry, if they had not had Academies for Deſigning?

71. Qu. Whether when a Room was once prepared, and Models in Plaiſter of Paris, the Annual Expence of ſuch an Academy need ſtand the Public in above two hundred Pounds a Year?

[16] 72. Qu. Whether our Linen Manufacture would not find the Benefit of this Inſtitution? And whether there be any Thing that makes us fall ſhort of the Dutch, in Damaſks, Dia⯑pers, and printed Linen but our Ignorance in Deſign?

73. Qu. Whether thoſe Specimens of our own Manufacture, hung up in a certain pub⯑lic Place, do not ſufficiently declare ſuch our Ignorance? And whether for the Honour of the Nation they ought not to be removed?

74. Qu. Whether thoſe, who may ſlight this Affair as notional, have ſufficiently conſi⯑dered the extenſive uſe of the Art of Deſign, and its Influence in moſt Trades and Manu⯑factures wherein the Forms of Things are of⯑ten more regarded than the Materials?

75. Qu. Whether there be any Art ſooner learned than that of making Carpets? And whether our Women with little Time and Pains may not make more beautiful Carpets than thoſe imported from Turky? And whe⯑ther this Branch of the Woollen Manufacture be not open to us? See Qu. 69.

76. Qu. Whether human Induſtry can produce, from ſuch cheap Materials, a Manu⯑facture of ſo great Value, by any other Art than by thoſe of Sculpture and Painting?

[17] 77. Qu. Whether Pictures and Statues are not in Fact ſo much Treaſure? And whether Rome and Florence would not be poor Towns without them?

78. Qu. Whether they do not bring ready Money as well as Jewels? Whether in Italy Debts are not paid and Children portioned with them, as with Gold and Silver?

79. Qu. Whether it would not be more prudent, to ſtrike out and exert ourſelves in permitted Branches of Trade, than to fold our Hands and repine, that we are not allow⯑ed the Woollen?

80. Qu. Whether it be true, that two Mil⯑lions are yearly expended by England in fo⯑reign Lace and Linnen?

81. Qu. Whether immenſe Sums are not drawn yearly into the northern Countries, for ſupplying the Britiſh Navy with Hempen Ma⯑nufactures?

82. Qu. Whether there be any Thing more profitable than Hemp? And whether there ſhould not be great Premiums for encourag⯑ing our Hempen Trade; what Advantages may not Great Britain make of a Country where Land and Labour are ſo cheap?

[18] 83. Qu. Whether Ireland alone might not raiſe Hemp ſufficient for the Britiſh Navy? And whether it would not be vain to expect this from the Britiſh Colonies in America, where Hands are ſo ſcarce and Labour ſo ex⯑ceſſively dear?

84. Qu. Whether if our own People want Will or Capacity for ſuch an Attempt, it might not be worth while for ſome under⯑taking Spirits in England to make Settlements, and raiſe Hemp in the Counties of Clare and Limeric, than which perhaps there is not fit⯑ter Land in the World for that Purpoſe? And whether both Nations would not find their Advantage therein?

85. Qu. Whether if all the idle Hands in this Kingdom were employed on Hemp and Linen, we might not find ſufficient Vent for theſe Manufactures?

86. Qu. How far it may be in our own Power to better our Affairs, without inter⯑fering with our Neighbours?

87. Qu. Whether the Prohibition of our Woollen Trade ought not naturally to put us on other Methods, which give no Jealouſy?

88. Qu. Whether Paper be not a valuable Article of Commerce? And whether it be not [19] true that one ſingle Bookſeller in London, yearly expends above four thouſand Pounds, in that foreign Commodity?

89. Qu. How it comes to paſs that the Venetians and Genoeſe, who wear ſo much leſs Linen, and ſo much worſe than we do, ſhould yet make very good Paper, and in great quantity, while we make very little and very bad?

90. Qu. How long it will be before my Countrymen find out, that it is worth 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 all that ſowed with Hemp, and Flax, that is fit for raiſing them, whether we ſhould have much Sheep-Walk beyond what was ſufficient to ſupply the Ne⯑ceſſities of the Kingdom?

92. Qu. Whether other Countries have not flouriſhed without the Woollen Trade?

93. Qu. Whether it be not a ſure Sign or Effect of a Countries thriving, to ſee it well cultivated, and full of Inhabitants? And, if ſo, whether a great Quantity of Sheep-Walk, be not ruinous to a Country, rendering it Waſte and thinly Inhabited?

[20] 94. Qu. Whether the Employing ſo much of our Land under Sheep, be not in fact an Iriſh Bull?

95. Qu. Whether our hankering after the Woollen Trade, be not the true and only Rea⯑ſon, which hath created a Jealouſy in England, towards Ireland? And whether any Thing can hurt us more than ſuch a Jealouſy?

96. Qu. Whether it be not the true Intereſt of both Nations, to become one People? And whether either be ſufficiently apprized of this?

97. Qu. Whether the upper Part of this People are not truly Engliſh, by Blood, Lan⯑guage, Religion, Manners, Inclination, and Intereſt?

98. Qu. Whether we are not as much En⯑gliſhmen, as the Children of old Romans born in Britain, were ſtill Romans?

99. Qu. Whether it be not our true Intereſt, not to interfere with them; and, in every other Caſe, whether it be not their true Intereſt to befriend us?

100. Qu. Whether a Mint in Ireland, might not be of great Convenience to the Kingdom, and whether it could be attended with any poſſible Inconvenience to great Britain? And [21] whether there were not Mints in Naples and in Sicily, when thoſe Kingdoms were Provin⯑ces to Spain or the Houſe of Auſtria?

101. Qu. Whether any Thing can be more ridiculous, than for the North of Ire⯑land to be Jealous of a Linen Manufacture in the South?

102. Qu. Whether the County of Tipera⯑ry be not much better Land than the County of Armagh; and yet whether the latter is not much better improved and inhabited than the former?

103. Qu. Whether every Landlord in the Kingdom doth not know the Cauſe of this? And yet how few are the better for ſuch their Knowledge?

104. Qu. Whether large Farms under few Hands, or ſmall ones under many, are like⯑ly to be made moſt of? And whether Flax and Tillage do not naturally multiply Hands, and divide Land into ſmall Holdings and well improved?

105. Qu. Whether, as our Exports are leſſened, we ought not to leſſen our Imports? And whether theſe will not be leſſened as our Demands, and theſe as our Wants, and theſe as our Cuſtoms or Faſhions? Of how [22] great Conſequence therefore are Faſhions to the Public? See Qu. 10, 11, 16.

106. Qu. Whether it would not be more reaſonable to mend our State than to com⯑plain 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 the Produce of fo⯑reign Countries?

108. Qu. How far the Vanity of our La⯑dies in dreſſing, and of our Gentlemen in drinking, contributes to the general Miſery of the People?

109. Qu. Whether Nations as wiſe and opulent as ours, have not made ſumptuary Laws; and what hinders us from doing the ſame?

110. Qu. Whether thoſe, who drink fo⯑reign Liquors and deck Themſelves and their Families with foreign Ornaments, are not ſo far forth to be reckon'd Abſentees?

111. Qu. Whether as our Trade is limit⯑ed, we ought not to limit our Expences; and whether this be not the natural and obvious Remedy?

[23] 112. Qu. Whether the Dirt, and Famine, and Nakedneſs of the Bulk of our People, might not be remedied even although we had no foreign Trade? And whether this ſhould not be our firſt Care, and whether, if this were once provided for, the Conveniencies of the Rich would not ſoon follow?

113. Qu. Whether comfortable living doth not produce Wants, and Wants Induſtry, and Induſtry Wealth? See Qu. 20, 65.

114. Qu. Whether there is not a great dif⯑ference between Holland and Ireland? And whether foreign Commerce without which the one could not ſubſiſt, be ſo neceſſary for the other?

115. Qu. Might we not put a Hand to the Plough or the Spade, though we had no foreign Commerce?

116. Qu. Whether the Exigencies of Na⯑ture are not to be anſwered by Induſtry on our own Soil? And how far the Convenien⯑cies and Comforts of Life may be procured, by a domeſtic Commerce between the ſeveral Parts of this Kingdom?

117. Qu. Whether the Women may not ſew, ſpin, weave, embroider, ſufficiently for the embeliſhment of their Perſons, and even [24] enough to raiſe Envy in each other, without being beholden to foreign Countries?

118. Qu. Suppoſe the Bulk of our Inhabi⯑tants had Shoes to their Feet, Cloaths to their Backs, and Beef in their Bellies? Might not ſuch a State be eligible for the Public, even though the Squires were condemned to drink Ale and Cyder?

119. Qu. Whether if Drunkenneſs be a ne⯑ceſſary Evil, Men may not as well get Drunk with 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, with⯑out the help of Gold and Silver?

121. Qu. Whether, if the Arts of Sculp⯑ture and Painting were encouraged among us, we might not furniſh our Houſes in a much nobler Manner with our own Manufacture? See Qu. 76.

122. Qu. Whether we have not, or may not have all the neceſſary Materials for Build⯑ing at Home?

123. Qu. Whether Tiles and Plaiſter may not ſupply the Place of Norway Fir, for floor⯑ing and Wainſcot?

[25] 124. Qu. Whether Plaiſter be not war⯑mer, as well as more ſecure, than Deal? And whether a modern faſhionable Houſe lined with Fir daubed over with Oyl and Paint, be not like a Fire-ſhip ready to be lighted up by all Accidents?

125. Qu. Whether larger Houſes, better built and Furniſhed, a greater Train of Ser⯑vants, the difference with regard to Equipage and Table, between finer and coarſer, more and leſs Elegant and Impolite, may not be ſuf⯑ficient to feed a reaſonable Share of Vanity, or ſupport all proper Diſtinctions? And whe⯑ther all theſe may not be procured, by dome⯑ſtic Induſtry out of the four Elements, with⯑out ranſacking the four Quarters of the Globe?

126. Qu. Whether any Thing is a nobler Ornament, in the Eye of the World, than an Italian Palace, that is, Stone and Mortar ſkilfully put together, and adorned with Sculp⯑ture and Painting, and whether this may not be compaſſed without foreign Trade?

127. Qu. Whether an Expence in Gardens and Plantations would not be an elegant Di⯑ſtinction for the Rich, a domeſtic Magnifi⯑cence, employing many Hands within, and drawing nothing from abroad?

[26] 128. Qu. Whether the Apology which is made for foreign Luxury in England, to wit, that they could not carry on their Trade without Imports as well as Exports, will hold in Ireland?

129. Qu. Whether one may not be allow⯑ed to conceive and ſuppoſe a Society, or Na⯑tion of Human Creatures, clad in Woollen Cloaths and Stuffs, eating good Bread, Beef, and Mutton, Poultry and Fiſh in great Plen⯑ty, drinking Ale, Mead, and Cyder, inha⯑biting decent Houſes built of Brick and Mar⯑ble, taking their Pleaſure in fair Parks and Gardens, depending on no foreign Imports either for Food or Raiment; and whether ſuch People ought much to be pitied?

130. Qu. Whether Ireland be not as well qualified for ſuch a State, as any Nation un⯑der the Sun?

131. Qu. Whether in ſuch a State the In⯑habitants may not contrive to paſs the twen⯑ty four Hours, with tolerable Eaſe and Chearfulneſs? And whether any People upon Earth can do more?

132. Qu. Whether they might not eat, drink, play, dreſs, viſit, ſleep in good Beds, ſit by good Fires, build, plant, raiſe a Name, make Eſtates and ſpend them?

[27] 133. Qu. Whether upon the whole, a do⯑meſtic Trade may not ſuffice in ſuch a Coun⯑try as Ireland, to nouriſh and cloath its Inha⯑bitants, and provide them with the reaſonable Conveniencies and even Comforts of Life?

134. Qu. Whether a general Habit of liv⯑ing well would not produce Numbers and In⯑duſtry; and whether, conſidering the Tenden⯑cy of human Kind, the Conſequence thereof would not be foreign Trade and Riches, how unneceſſary ſoever? See Qu. 68.

135. Qu. Whether nevertheleſs, it be a Crime to enquire how far we may do without foreign Trade, and what would follow on ſuch a Suppoſition?

136. Qu. Whether the Number and Wel⯑fare of the Subjects be not the true Strength of the Crown?

137. Qu. Whether in all public Inſtitutions there ſhould not be an End propoſed, which is to be the Rule and Limit of the Means? Whe⯑ther this End ſhould not be the Well-being of the Whole? And whether in order to this, the firſt Step ſhould not be to cloath and feed our People?

138. Qu. Whether there be upon Earth any Chriſtian or civilized People ſo beggarly, [28] wretched, and deſtitute, as the common Iriſh?

139. Qu. Whether, nevertheleſs, there is any other People whoſe Wants may be more eaſily ſupplyed from Home?

140. Qu. Whether, if there was a Wall of Braſs a thouſand Cubits high, round this Kingdom, our Natives might not nevertheleſs live cleanly and comfortably, till the Land, and reap the Fruits of it?

141. Qu. What ſhould hinder us from exerting ourſelves, uſing our Hands 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 our Neighbours, with reſpect to their own Intereſt, yet whether it be not plainly ours to accomodate ourſelves to it?

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

144. Qu. Whether there be any other Na⯑tion poſſeſs'd of ſo much good Land, and ſo [29] many able Hands to Work it, which yet is beholden for Bread to foreign Countries?

145. Qu. Whether it be true, that we im⯑port Corn to the yearly value of two hundred thouſand Pounds?

146. Qu. Whether we are not undone by Faſhions made for other People? And whe⯑ther it be not Madneſs in a poor Nation to imitate a rich one?

147. Qu. Whether a Woman of Faſhion ought not to be declar'd a public Enemy?

148. Qu. Whether it be not certain that from the ſingle Town of Cork were export⯑ed, laſt Year, no leſs than one hundred and ſeven thouſand one hundred ſixty one Barrels of Beef, ſeven thouſand three hundred and ſeventy nine Barrels of Pork, thirteen thou⯑ſand four hundred and ſixty one Caſks and eighty five thouſand ſeven hundred and twen⯑ty ſeven Firkins of Butter? And what Hands were employed in this Manufacture?

149. Qu. Whether a Foreigner could ima⯑gine, that one half of the People were ſtarv⯑ing, in a Country which ſent out ſuch Plenty of Proviſions?

150. Qu. Whether an Iriſh Lady, ſet out [30] with French Silks, and Flanders Lace, may not be ſaid to conſume more Beef and Butter than fifty of our labouring Peaſants?

151. Qu. Whether nine Tenths of our fo⯑reign Trade be not ſingly to ſupport the Ar⯑ticle of Vanity?

152. Qu. Whether it can be hoped pri⯑vate Perſons will not indulge this Folly, un⯑leſs reſtrained by the Public?

153. Qu. How Vanity is maintained in other Countries, whether in Hungary, for Inſtance, a proud Nobility are not ſubſiſted with ſmall Imports from abroad?

154. Qu. Whether there be a prouder Peo⯑ple upon Earth than the noble Venetians, though they all wear plain black Cloaths?

155. Qu. Whether a People are to be pi⯑tied, that will not ſacrifice their little parti⯑cular Vanities to the public Good? And yet whether each Part would not except their own Foible from this public Sacrifice, the Squire his Bottle, the Lady her Lace?

156. Qu. Whether Claret be not often drunk rather for Vanity than for Health or Pleaſure?

[31] 157. Qu. Whether it be true, that Men of nice Palates have been impoſed on, by Elder Wine for French Claret, and by Mead for Palm Sack?

158. Qu. Do not Engliſhmen abroad pur⯑chaſe Beer and Cyder at ten Times the price of Wine?

159. Qu. How many Gentlemen are there in England of a thouſand Pounds per Annum, who never drink Wine in their own Houſes? Whether the ſame may be ſaid of any in Ire⯑land who have even one hundred Pounds per Annum?

160. Qu. What reaſon have our Neigh⯑bours in England for diſcouraging French Wines, which may not hold with Reſpect to us alſo?

161. Qu. How much of the neceſſary Su⯑ſtenance of our People is yearly exported for Brandy?

162. Qu. Whether, if People muſt poiſon themſelves, they had not better do it with their own Growth?

163. Qu. If we imported neither Claret from France nor Fir from Norway, what the Nation would ſave by it?

[32] 164. Qu. When the Root yieldeth inſuffi⯑cient Nouriſhment, whether Men do not Top the Tree to make the lower Branches thrive?

165. Qu. Whether, if our Ladies drank Sage or Balm Tea out of Iriſh Ware, it would be an inſupportable national Calamity?

166. Qu. Whether it be really true that ſuch Wine is beſt as moſt encourages drink⯑ing, i. e. that muſt be given in the largeſt Doſe to produce its effect? And whether this holds with regard to any Medicine?

167. Qu. Whether that Trade ſhould not be accounted moſt pernicious, wherein the Balance is moſt againſt us? And whether this be not the Trade with France?

168. Qu. Whether it be not even Madneſs, to encourage Trade with a Nation that takes nothing of our Manufacture?

169. Qu. Whether Ireland can hope to thrive, if the major Part of her Patriots ſhall be found in the French Intereſt? See Qu. 155.

170. Qu. Why, if a Bribe by the Palate or the Purſe be in effect the ſame Thing, they ſhould not be alike infamous?

[33] 171. Qu. Whether the Vanity and Luxu⯑ry of a few ought to ſtand in Competition 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 be firſt conſider'd?

173. Qu. Whether it is poſſible the Coun⯑try ſhould be well improved, while our Beef is exported and our Labourers live upon Po⯑tatoes? See Qu. 148.

174. Qu. If it be reſolved that we cannot do without foreign Trade, whether, at leaſt, it may not be worth while to conſider what Branches thereof deſerve to be entertained, and how far we may be able to carry it on under our preſent Limitations?

175. Qu. What foreign Imports may be neceſſary, for clothing and feeding the Fami⯑lies of Perſons not worth above one hundred Pounds a Year? And how many wealthier there are in the Kingdom, and what Propor⯑tion they bear to the other Inhabitants?

176. Qu. Whether Trade be not then on a right Foot, when foreign Commodities are imported in Exchange only for domeſtic Su⯑perfluities?

[34] 177. Qu. Whether the Quantities of Beef, Butter, Wool, and Leather exported from this Iſland can be reckon'd the Superfluities of a Country, where there are ſo many Natives naked and famiſhed?

178. Qu. Whether it would not be wiſe ſo to order our Trade, as to export Manufactures rather than Proviſions, and of thoſe ſuch as employ moſt Hands?

179. Qu. Whether ſhe would not be a ve⯑ry vile Matron, and juſtly thought either mad or fooliſh, that ſhould give away the Neceſſa⯑ries of Life, from her naked and famiſhed Children, in Exchange for Pearls to ſtick in her Hair, and ſweet Meats 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 the Funds beſides the Cuſtom on Things imported?

182. Qu. Whether any Art or Manufacture be ſo difficult as the making of good Laws?

183. Qu. Whether our Peers and Gentle⯑men are born Legiſlators? Or whether that Faculty be acquired by Study and Reflection?

[35] 184. Qu. Whether to comprehend the real Intereſt of a People, and the means to pro⯑cure it, doth not imply ſome Fund of Know⯑ledge hiſtorical, moral, and political, with a Faculty of Reaſon improved by Learning?

185. Qu. Whether every Enemy to Learn⯑ing be not a Goth? And whether every ſuch Goth among us be not an Enemy to the Coun⯑try?

186. Qu. Whether therefore it would not be an Omen of ill preſage, a dreadful Phoeno⯑menon in the Land, if our great Men ſhould take it in their Heads to deride Learning and Education?

187. Qu. Whether on the contrary, it ſhould not ſeem worth while to erect a Mart of Literature in this Kingdom, under wiſer Regulations and better Diſcipline than in any other Part of Europe? And whether this would not be an infallible Means of drawing Men and Money into the Kingdom?

188. Qu. Whether the governed be not too numerous for the governing Part of our Col⯑lege? And whether it might not be expedient to convert thirty Natives Places into twenty Fellowſhips?

[36] 189. Qu. Whether if we had two Colle⯑ges, there might not ſpring an uſeful Emula⯑tion between them? And whether it might not be contrived, ſo to divide the Fellows Scholars and Revenues between both, as that no Member ſhould be a Loſer thereby?

190. Qu. Whether ten thouſand Pounds well laid out might not build a decent Col⯑lege, fit to contain two hundred Perſons; and whether the purchaſe-Money of the Cham⯑bers would not go a good way towards de⯑fraying the Expence?

191. Qu. Where this College ſhould be ſi⯑tuated?

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

193. Qu. Whether the collected Wiſdom of Ages and Nations be not found in Books, improved and applied by Study?

194. Qu. Whether it was not an Iriſh Pro⯑feſſor who firſt open'd the public Schools at Oxford? Whether this Iſland hath not been antiently famous for Learning? and whether at this Day it hath any better Chance for be⯑ing conſiderable?

[37] 195. Qu. Whether we may not with bet⯑ter 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 of Induſtry, among his Tenants and Neigh⯑bours?

197. Qu. Whether the real Foundation for Wealth muſt not be laid in the Numbers, the Frugality, and the Induſtry of the Peo⯑ple? And whether all Attempts to enrich a Nation by other Means, as raiſing the Coin, Stock-jobbing, and ſuch Arts, are not vain?

198. Qu. Whether a Door ought not to be ſhut againſt all other Methods of growing rich, ſave only by Induſtry and Merit; and whether Wealth got otherwiſe would not be ruinous to the Public?

199. Qu. Whether the abuſe of Banks and Paper-Money is a juſt Objection againſt the uſe thereof? And whether ſuch abuſe might not eaſily be prevented?

200. Qu. Whether national Banks are not found uſeful in Venice, Holland, and Ham⯑bourgh? And whether it is not poſſible to [38] contrive one that may be uſeful alſo in Ire⯑land?

201. Qu. Whether any Nation ever was in greater want of ſuch an Expedient than Ireland?

202. Qu. Whether the Banks of Venice and Amſterdam, are not in the Hands of the Public?

203. Qu. Whether it may not be worth while to inform ourſelves in the Nature of thoſe Banks? And what Reaſon can be aſſign⯑ed, why Ireland ſhould not reap the Benefit of ſuch public Banks, as well as other Coun⯑tries?

204. Qu. Whether a Bank of national Cre⯑dit, ſupported by public Funds, and ſecured by Parliament, be a Chimera or impoſſible Thing; and if not, what would follow from the Suppoſal of ſuch Bank?

205. Qu. Whether the Currency of a Cre⯑dit ſo well ſecured would not be of great Ad⯑vantage to our Trade and Manufactures?

206. Qu. Whether the Notes of ſuch pub⯑ [...] [...] would not have a more general Cir⯑ [...] than thoſe of private Banks, as being [...] ſubject to Frauds and Hazards?

[39] 207. Qu. Whether it be not agreed that Paper hath, in many reſpects, the Advantage above Coin, as being of more Diſpatch in Payments, more eaſily transferred, preſerved, and recovered when loſt?

208. Qu. Whether, beſide theſe Advanta⯑ges, there be not an evident Neceſſity for cir⯑culating Credit by Paper, from the Defect of Coin in this Kingdom?

209. Qu. Whether the Public may not as well ſave the Intereſt which it now pays?

210. Qu. What would happen if two of our Banks ſhould break at once? And whe⯑ther it be wiſe to neglect providing againſt an Event which Experience hath ſhewn us not to be impoſſible?

211. Qu. Whether ſuch an Accident would not particularly affect the Bankers? And there⯑fore whether a national Bank would not be a Security even to private Bankers?

212. Qu. Whether we may not eaſily avoid the Inconveniencies attending the Pa⯑per-Money of New England, which were in⯑curred by their iſſuing too great a Quantity of Notes, by their having no Silver in Bank to exchange for Notes, by their not inſiſting upon Repayment of the Loans at the Time [40] prefixed, and eſpecially by their Want of Ma⯑nufactures to anſwer their Imports from Eu⯑rope?

213. Qu. Whether a Combination of Ban⯑kers might not do Wonders, and whether Bankers know their own Strength?

214. Qu. Whether a Bank in private Hands might not even overturn a Government? And whether this was not the Caſe of the Bank of St. George in Genoa?^*

215. Qu. Whether we may not eaſily pre⯑vent the ill Effects of ſuch a Bank, as Mr. Law propoſed for Scotland, which was faulty in not limiting the Quantum of Bills, and permitting all Perſons to take out what Bills they pleaſed, upon the Mortgage of Lands, whence, by a Glut of Paper, the Prices of Things muſt riſe: Whence alſo the Fortunes of Men muſt encreaſe in Denomination, though not in Value; whence Pride, Idle⯑neſs, and Beggary?

216. Qu. Whether ſuch Banks, as thoſe of England and Scotland, might not be at⯑tended with great Inconveniences, as lodging too much Power in the Hands of private Men, [41] and giving handle for Monopolies, Stock-job⯑bing, and deſtructive Schemes?

217. Qu. Whether the national Bank, pro⯑jected by an Anonymous Writer in the latter End of Queen Anne's Reign, might not on the other Hand be attended with as great In⯑conveniencies, by lodging too much Power in the Government?

218. Qu. Whether the Bank projected by Murray, though it partake, in many uſeful Particulars, with that of Amſterdam, yet, as it placeth too great Power in the Hands of a private Society, might not be dangerous to the Public?

219. Qu. Whether it be rightly remarked by ſome, that, as Banking brings no Treaſure into the Kingdom like Trade, private Wealth muſt ſink as the Bank riſeth? And whether whatever cauſeth Induſtry to flouriſh and cir⯑culate, may not be ſaid to increaſe our Trea⯑ſure?

220. Qu. Whether the ruinous Effects of Miſſiſſippi, South-Sea, and ſuch Schemes, were not owing to an abuſe of Paper Money or Credit, in making it a Means for Idleneſs and Gaming, inſtead of a Motive and Help to Induſtry?

[42] 221. Qu. Whether thoſe Effects could have happened, had there been no Stock-job⯑bing? And whether Stock-jobbing could at firſt have been ſet on Foot, without an ima⯑ginary Foundation of ſome Improvement to the Stock by Trade? Whether, therefore, when there are no ſuch Projects, or Cheats, or private Schemes propoſed, the ſame Effects can be juſtly feared?

222. Qu. Whether by a national Bank, be not properly underſtood a Bank, not only eſtabliſh'd by public Authority as the Bank of England, but a Bank in the Hands of the Public, wherein there are no Shares: Whereof the Public alone is Proprietor, and reaps all the Benefit?

223. Qu. Whether having conſidered the Conveniencies of Banking and Paper-Credit in ſome Countries, and the Inconveniencies thereof in others, we may not contrive to adopt the former, and avoid the latter?

224. Qu. Whether great Evils, to which other Schemes are liable, may not be prevent⯑ed, by excluding the Managers of the Bank from a ſhare in the Legiſlature?

225. Qu. Whether the riſe of the Bank of Amſterdam was not purely caſual, for the Se⯑curity and Diſpatch of Payments? And whe⯑ther [43] the good Effects thereof, in ſupplying the Place of Coin, and promoting a ready Circulation of Induſtry and Commerce, may not be a Leſſon to us, 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 Subſcrip⯑tion of three hundred thouſand Pounds, to pay off the national Debt, the Intereſt of which Sum to be paid the Subſcribers, ſubject to certain Terms of Redemption, be not in reality a private Bank, as thoſe of England and Scotland, which are national only in Name, being in the Hands of particular Per⯑ſons, and making Dividends on the Money paid in by Subſcribers?^*

227. Qu. Whether Plenty of ſmall Caſh be not abſolutely neceſſary, for keeping up a Circulation among the People, that is, whe⯑ther Copper be not more neceſſary than Gold?

228. Qu. Whether it is not worth while to reflect, on the Expedients made uſe of by other Nations, Paper-Money, Bank-Notes, public Funds, and Credit in all its Shapes, to examine what hath been done and deviſed, [44] to add our own Animadverſions, and upon the whole offer ſuch Hints, as ſeem not un⯑worthy the Attention of the Public?

229. Qu. Whether that, which increaſeth the Stock of a Nation, be not a Means of in⯑creaſing its Trade? And whether that, which increaſeth the current Credit of a Nation, may not be ſaid to increaſe its Stock?

230. Qu. Whether it may not be expedient to appoint certain Funds or Stock for a na⯑tional Bank, under direction of certain Per⯑ſons, one third whereof to be named by the Government, and one third by each Houſe of Parliament?

231. Qu. Whether the Directors ſhould not be excluded from ſitting in either Houſe; and whether they ſhould not be ſubject to the Audit and Viſitation of a ſtanding Committee of both Houſes?

232. Qu. Whether ſuch Committee of In⯑ſpectors ſhould not be changed every two Years, one half going out, and another com⯑ing in, by Ballot?

233. Qu. Whether the Notes ought not to be iſſued in Lots, to be lent at Intereſt on mortgaged Lands, the whole Number of Lots [45] to be divided among the four Provinces, ratea⯑bly to the Number of Hearths in each?

234. Qu. Whether it may not be expedi⯑ent to appoint four counting Houſes, one in each Province, for converting Notes into Specie?

235. Qu. Whether a Limit ſhould not be fixed, which no Perſon might exceed, in tak⯑ing out Notes?

236. Qu. Whether, the better to anſwer domeſtic Circulation, it may not be right to iſſue Notes as low as twenty Shillings?

237. Qu. Whether all the Bills ſhould be iſſued at once, or rather by Degrees, that ſo Men may be gradually accuſtomed and recon⯑ciled to the Bank?

238. Qu. Whether the keeping of the Caſh, and the direction of the Bank, ought not to be in different Hands, and both under Public Controle?

239. Qu. Whether the ſame Rule ſhould not alway be obſerved, of lending out Money or Notes, only to half the Value of the Mort⯑gaged Land? And whether this Value ſhould not alway be rated, at the ſame Number of Years Purchaſe as at firſt?

[46] 240. Qu. Whether Care ſhould not be taken to prevent an undue Riſe of the Value of Land?

241. Qu. Whether the increaſe of Induſtry and People will not of Courſe raiſe the Value of Land? And whether this Riſe may not be ſufficient?

242. Qu. Whether Land may not be apt to riſe, on the iſſuing too great Plenty of Notes?

243. Qu. Whether this may not be prevent⯑ed by the gradual and ſlow iſſuing of Notes, and by frequent Sales of Lands?

244. Qu. Whether Intereſt doth not mea⯑ſure the true Value of Land; for Inſtance, where Money is at five per Cent, whether Land is not worth twenty Years Purchaſe?

245. Qu. Whether two ſmall a Proportion of Money would not hurt the landed Man, and too great a Proportion the monied Man? And whether the Quantum of Notes ought not to bear Proportion to the public Demand? And whether Trial muſt not ſhew what this Demand will be?

246. Qu. Whether the exceeding this Mea⯑ſure might not produce divers bad Effects, one whereof would be the Loſs of our Silver?

[47] 247. Qu. Whether Intereſt paid into the Bank, ought not to go on augmenting its Stock?

248. Qu. Whether it would or would not be right, to appoint that the ſaid Intereſt be paid in Notes only?^*

249. Qu. Whether the Notes of this natio⯑nal Bank ſhould not be received in all Pay⯑ments into the Exchequer?

250. Qu. Whether on Suppoſition that the Specie ſhould fail, the Credit would not ne⯑vertheleſs ſtill paſs, being admitted in all Pay⯑ments of the public Revenue?

251. Qu. Whether the Public can become Bankrupt, ſo long as the Notes are iſſued on good Security?

252. Qu. Whether Miſmanagement, pro⯑digal Living, Hazards by Trade, which of⯑ten affect private Banks, are equally to be ap⯑prehended in a Public one?

253. Qu. Whether as Credit became Cur⯑rent, and this raiſed the Value of Land, the Security muſt not of Courſe riſe? See Qu. 233.

[48] 254. Qu. Whether as our current domeſtic Credit grew, Induſtry would not grow like⯑wiſe, and if Induſtry, our Manufactures, and if theſe, our foreign Credit?

255. Qu. Whether by Degrees, as Buſineſs and People multiplied, more Bills may not be iſſued, without augmenting the Capital Stock, provided ſtill, that they are iſſued on good Se⯑curity; which further iſſuing of new Bills, not to be without Conſent of Parliament?

256. Qu. Whether ſuch Bank would not be Secure? Whether the Profits accruing to the Public would not be very conſiderable? And whether Induſtry in private Perſons would not be ſupplied, and a general Circulation en⯑couraged?

257. Qu. Whether ſuch Bank ſhould, or ſhould not, be allowed to iſſue Notes for Mo⯑ney depoſited therein? And, if not, whether the Bankers would have Cauſe to complain?

258. Qu. Whether if the Public thrives, all particular Perſons muſt not feel the Benefit thereof, even the Bankers themſelves?

259. Qu. Whether beſide the Bank-Com⯑pany, there are not in England many private wealthy Bankers, and whether they were more before the erecting of that Company?

[49] 260. Qu. Whether as Induſtry increaſed our Manufactures would not flouriſh; and as theſe flouriſhed, whether better Returns would not be made from Eſtates to their Landlords, both within and without the Kingdom?

261. Qu. Whether we have not Paper-Mo⯑ney circulating among us already? Whether, therefore, we might not as well have that which is ſecured by the Public, and whereof the Public reaps the Benefit?

262. Qu. Whether there are not two gene⯑ral Ways of circulating Money, to wit, Play and Traffic? And whether Stock-jobbing is not to be ranked under the former?

263. Qu. Whether there are more than two Things, that might draw Silver out of the Bank, when its Credit was once well eſta⯑bliſhed, to wit, foreign Demands and ſmall Payments at Home?

264 Qu. Whether if our Trade with France were checked, the former of theſe Cauſes could be ſuppoſed to Operate at all? And whether the latter could operate to any great Degree? See Qu. 34.

265. Qu. Whether the ſure Way to ſup⯑ply People with Tools and Materials, and to [50] ſet them at Work, be not a free Circulation of Money, whether Silver or Paper?

266. Qu. Whether in New England, all Trade and Buſineſs is not as much at a Stand, upon a Scarcity of Paper-Money, as with us from the Want of Specie?

267. Qu. Whether Paper-Money or Notes may not be iſſued from the national Bank, on the ſecurity of Hemp, of Linen, or other Manufactures whereby the Poor might be ſup⯑ported in their Induſtry?

268. Qu. Whether it be certain, that the Quantity of Silver in the Bank of Amſterdam be greater now than at firſt; but whether it be not certain that there is a greater Circulation of Induſtry and Extent of Trade, more Peo⯑ple, Ships, Houſes, and Commodities of all Sorts, more Power by Sea and Land?

269. Qu. Whether Money, lying Dead in the Bank of Amſterdam, would not be as uſe⯑leſs as in the Mine?

270. Qu. Whether our viſible Security in Land could be doubted? And whether there be any Thing like this in the Bank of Am⯑ſterdam?

271. Qu. Whether it be juſt to apprehend Danger from truſting a national Bank, with Power to extend its Credit, to circulate Notes, which it ſhall be Felony to counterfeit, to re⯑ceive [51] Goods on Loans, to purchaſe Lands, to fell alſo or alienate them, and to deal in Bills of Exchange, when theſe Powers are no other than have been truſted for many Years with the Bank of England, although in Truth but a private Bank? See Qu. 222.

272. Qu. Whether the Objection from Monopolies and an over-growth of Power, which are made againſt private Banks, can poſſibly hold againſt a national one?

273. Qu. Whether Banks raiſed by private Subſcription, would be as advantageous to the Public, as to the Subſcribers? And whether Riſques and Frauds might not be more juſtly apprehended from them?

274. Qu. Whether the evil Effects, which, of late Years, have attended Paper-Money and Credit in Europe, did not ſpring from Subſcriptions, Shares, Dividends, Stock-job⯑bing?

275 Qu. Whether great Evils attending Paper-Money in the Britiſh Plantations of America have not ſprung from the over-rating their Lands, and iſſuing Paper without Diſ⯑cretion, and from the Legiſlators breaking their own Rules in Favour of themſelves, thus ſacrificing the Public to their private Be⯑nefit? And whether a little Senſe and Honeſty might not eaſily prevent all ſuch Inconveni⯑encies? See Qu. 212.

[52] 276. Qu. Whether an Argument from the Abuſe of Things, againſt the uſe of them be Concluſive?

277. Qu. Whether he who is bred to a Part, be fitteſt to judge of the Whole?

278. Qu. Whether Intereſt be not apt to bias Judgment? And whether Traders only are to be conſulted about Trade, or Bankers about Money?

279. Qu. Whether the Subject of Free-thinking in Religion be not exhauſted? And whether it be not high Time for our Free-thinkers, to turn their Thoughts to the Im⯑provement of their Country?

280. Qu. Whether any Man hath a Right to judge, that will not be at the Pains to di⯑ſtinguiſh?

281. Qu. Whether there be not a wide Difference, between the Profits going to aug⯑ment the national Stock, and being divided among private Sharers? And whether, in the former Caſe, there can poſſibly be any Gaming or Stock-jobbing?

282. Qu. Whether it muſt not be ruinous for a Nation to ſit down to game, be it with Silver or with Paper?

283. Qu. Whether, therefore, the circu⯑lating Paper, in the late ruinous Schemes of [53] France and England, was the true Evil, and not rather the circulating thereof without In⯑duſtry; And whether the Bank of Amſter⯑dam, where Induſtry had been for ſo many Years ſubſiſted, and circulated by Transfers on Paper, doth not clearly decide this Point?

284. Qu. Whether there are not to be ſeen in America fair Towns, wherein the People are well lodged, fed, and cloathed, without a Beggar in their Streets, although there be not one Grain of Gold or Silver 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, purchaſe Lands, till and reap the Fruits of them, buy and ſell, educate and provide for their Children? Whether they do not even indulge themſelves in foreign Vanities?

286. Qu. Whether, whatever Inconveni⯑encies thoſe People may have incurred, from not obſerving either Rules or Bounds in their Paper-Money, yet it be not certain that they are in a more flouriſhing Condition, have larger and better built Towns, more Plenty, more Induſtry, 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, and Credit miſma⯑naged, [54] ſo as to produce Gaming and Madneſs inſtead of Induſtry, can be any juſt Objection againſt a national Bank, calculated purely to promote Induſtry?

288. Qu. Whether a Scheme for the Wel⯑fare of this Nation ſhould not take in the whole Inhabitants? And whether it be not a vain Attempt, to project the flouriſhing of our Proteſtant Gentry, excluſive of the Bulk of the Natives?

289. Qu. Whether, therefore, it doth not greatly concern the State, that our Iriſh Na⯑tives ſhould be converted, and the whole Na⯑tion united in the ſame Religion, the ſame allegiance, and the ſame Intereſt? And how this may moſt probably be effected?

290. Qu. Whether an Oath, teſtifying Al⯑legiance to the King and diſclaiming the Pope's Authority in Temporals, may not be juſtly required of the Roman Catholicks? And whether, in common Prudence or Po⯑licy, any Prieſt ſhould be tolerated who refu⯑ſeth 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, that all would take it, and none think themſelves bound by it?

292. Qu. Whether thoſe of the Church of [55] Rome, in converting the Moors of Spain or the Proteſtants of France, have not ſet us an Example which might juſtify a ſimilar Treat⯑ment of themſelves, if the Laws of Chriſtia⯑nity allowed thereof?

293. Qu. Whether compelling Men to a Profeſſion of Faith is not the worſt Thing in Popery, and, conſequently, whether to co⯑py after the Church of Rome therein, were not to become Papiſts ourſelves in the worſt Senſe?

294. Qu. Whether nevertheleſs we may not imitate the Church of Rome, in certain Pla⯑ces, where Jews are tolerated, by obliging our Iriſh Papiſts, at ſtated Times, to hear Prote⯑ſtant Sermons? And whether this would not make Miſſionaries in the Iriſh Tongue uſeful?

295. Qu. Whether the mere Act of hear⯑ing, without making any Profeſſion of Faith, or joining in any Part of Worſhip, be a Reli⯑gious Act? And, conſequently, whether their being obliged to hear, may not conſiſt with the Toleration of Roman Catholics?

296. Qu. Whether, if penal Laws ſhould be thought Oppreſſive, we may not at leaſt be allowed to give Premiums? And, whether it would be wrong, if the Public encouraged Popiſh Families to become Hearers, by pay⯑ing their Hearth-Money for them?

[56] 297. Qu. Whether in granting Toleration, we ought not to diſtinguiſh between Doctrines purely Religious and ſuch as affect the State?

298. Qu. Whether the Caſe be not very different, in regard to a Man who only eats Fiſh on Fridays, ſays his Prayers in Latin, or believes Tranſubſtantiation, and one who profeſſeth in Temporals a Subjection to fo⯑reign Powers, who holdeth himſelf abſolved from all Obedience to his natural Prince and the Laws of his Country? who is even perſua⯑ded, it may be Meritorious to deſtroy the Powers that are?

299. Qu. Whether, therefore, a Diſtinc⯑tion ſhould not be made between mere Pa⯑piſts and Recuſants? And whether the latter can expect the ſame Protection from the Go⯑vernment as the former?

300. Qu. Whether our Papiſts in this King⯑dom can complain, if they are allowed to be as much Papiſts, as the Subjects of France or of the Empire?

301. Qu. Whether there is any ſuch Thing as a Body of Inhabitants, in any Popiſh Coun⯑try under the Sun, that profeſs an abſolute Submiſſion to the Pope's Orders in Matters of an indifferent Nature, or that in ſuch Points do not think it their Duty, to obey the civil Government?

[57] 302. Qu. Whether ſince the Peace of Ut⯑recht, Maſs was not celebrated, and the Sa⯑craments adminiſter'd in divers Dioceſe's of Sicily, notwithſtanding the Pope's interdict?

303. Qu. Whether every Plea of Conſci⯑ence is to be regarded? Whether, for Inſtance, the German Anabaptiſts, Levellers, or fifth Monarchy Men would be tolerated on that Pretence?

304. Qu. Whether Popiſh Children bred in Charity Schools, when bound out in Ap⯑prentiſhip to Proteſtant Maſters, do generally continue Proteſtants?

305. Qu. Whether a Sum, which would go but a little Way towards erecting Hoſpi⯑tals for maintaining and educating the Chil⯑dren of the Native Iriſh, might not go far in binding them out Apprentices to Proteſtant Maſters, for Huſbandry, uſeful Trades, and the ſervice of Families?

306. Qu. Whether if the Parents are over⯑looked, there can be any great Hopes of Suc⯑ceſs in converting the Children?

307. Qu. Whether there be any Inſtance, of a People's being converted in a Chriſtian Senſe, otherwiſe than by preaching to them and inſtructing them in their own Language?

308. Qu. Whether Catechiſts in the Iriſh Tongue may not eaſily be procured and ſub⯑ſiſted? [58] And whether this would not be the moſt practicable Means for converting the Na⯑tives?

309. Qu. Whether it be not of great Ad⯑vantage to the Church of Rome, that ſhe hath Clergy ſuited to all Ranks of Men, in gradual Subordination from Cardinals down to Mendicants?

310. Qu. Whether her numerous poor Clergy are not very uſeful in Miſſions, and of much influence with the People?

311. Qu. Whether in defect of able Miſſi⯑onaries, Perſons converſant in low Life, and ſpeaking the Iriſh Tongue, if well inſtructed in the firſt Principles of Religion and in the Popiſh Controverſy, though for the reſt on a Level with Pariſh Clerks, or the Schoolma⯑ſters of Charity Schools, may not be fit to mix with and bring over our poor illiterate Natives, to the eſtabliſhed Church? Whether it is not to be wiſhed that ſome Parts of our Liturgy and Homilies were publickly read in the Iriſh Language? And whether, in theſe Views, it may not be right to breed up ſome of the better ſort of Children in the Charity Schools and qualify them for Miſſionaries, Catechiſts and Readers?

312. Qu. Whether there be any Nation of Men governed by Reaſon? And yet, if there was not, whether this would be a good Ar⯑gument [59] againſt the uſe of Reaſon in public Affairs?

313. Qu. Whether, as others have ſuppoſ⯑ed an Atlantis or Eutopia, we alſo may not ſuppoſe an Hyperborean Iſland inhabited by reaſonable Creatures?

314. Qu. Whether an indifferent Perſon, who looks into all Hands, may not be a bet⯑ter Judge of the Play than a Party who ſees only his own?

315. Qu. Whether one, whoſe End is to make his Country-Men think, may not gain his End, even though they ſhould not think as he doth?

316. Qu. Whether he, who only aſks, Aſ⯑ſerts? And whether any Man can fairly con⯑fute the Queriſt?

317. Qu. Whether the Intereſt of a Part will not alway be preferred to that of the Whole?