the querist-第10章
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frugality？
422 Whether the Swisses in general have not sumptuary laws；
prohibiting the use of gold； jewels； silver； silk； and lace in
their apparel； and indulging the women only to wear silk on
festivals； weddings； and public solemnities？
423 Whether there be not two ways of growing rich； sparing and
getting？ But whether the lazy spendthrift must not be doubly
poor？
424 Whether money circulating be not the life of industry； and
whether the want thereof doth not render a State gouty and
inactive？
425 But whether； if we had a national bank； and our present cash
（small as it is） were put into the most convenient shape； men
should hear any public complaints for want of money？
426 Whether all circulation be not alike a circulation of credit；
whatsoever medium （metal or paper） is employed； and whether gold
be any more than credit for so much power？
427 Whether the wealth of the richest nations in Christendom doth
not consist in paper vastly more than in gold and silver？
428 Whether Lord Clarendon doth not aver of his own knowledge；
that the Prince of Orange； with the best credit； and the
assistance of the richest men in Amsterdam； was above ten days
endeavouring to raise ？0；000 in specie； without being able to
raise half the sum in all that time？ （See Clarendon's History；
BK。 XII）
429 Supposing there had been hitherto no such thing as a bank；
and the question were now first proposed； whether it would be
safer to circulate unlimited bills in a private credit； or bills
to a limited value on the public credit of the community； what
would men think？
430 Whether the maxim； 'What is everybody's business is
nobody's；' prevails in any country under the sun more than in
Ireland？
431 Whether the united stock of a nation be not the best
security？ And whether anything but the ruin of the State can
produce a national bankruptcy？
432 Whether the total sum of the public treasure； power； and
wisdom； all co…operating； be not most likely to establish a bank
of credit； sufficient to answer the ends； relieve the wants； and
satisfy the scruples of all people？
433 Whether London is not to be considered as the metropolis of
Ireland？ And whether our wealth （such as it is） doth not
circulate through London and throughout all England； as freely as
that of any part of his Majesty's dominions？
434 Whether therefore it be not evidently the interest of the
people of England to encourage rather than to oppose a national
bank in this kingdom； as well as every other means for advancing
our wealth which shall not impair their own？
435 Whether it is not our interest to be useful to them rather
than rival them； and whether in that case we may not be sure of
their good offices？
436 Whether we can propose to thrive so long as we entertain a
wrongheaded distrust of England？
437 Whether； as a national bank would increase our industry； and
that our wealth； England may not be a proportionable gainer； and
whether we should not consider the gains of our mother…country as
some accession to our own？
438 Whether there be any difficulty in comprehending that the
whole wealth of the nation is in truth the stock of a national
bank？ And whether any more than the right comprehension of this
be necessary to make all men easy with regard to its credit？
439 Whether the prejudices about gold and silver are not strong；
but whether they are not still prejudices？
440 Whether paper doth not by its stamp and signature acquire a
local value； and become as precious and as scarce as gold？ And
whether it be not much fitter to circulate large sums； and
therefore preferable to gold？
441 Whether it doth not much import to have a right conception of
money？ And whether its true and just idea be not that of a
ticket； entitling to power； and fitted to record and transfer
such power？
442 Though the bank of Amsterdam doth very rarely； if at all； pay
out money； yet whether every man possessed of specie be not ready
to convert it into paper； and act as cashier to the bank？ And
whether； from the same motive； every monied man throughout this
kingdom would not be cashier to our national bank？
443 Whether we may not obtain that as friends which it is in vain
to hope for as rivals？
444 Whether in every instance by which we prejudice England； we
do not in a greater degree prejudice ourselves？
445 Whether in the rude original of society the first step was
not the exchanging of commodities； the next a substituting of
metals by weight as the common medium of circulation； after this
the making use of coin； lastly； a further refinement by the use
of paper with proper marks and signatures？ And whether this； as
it is the last； so it be not the greatest improvement？
446 Whether we are not in fact the only people who may be said to
starve in the midst of plenty？
447 Whether there can be a worse sign than that people should
quit their country for a livelihood？ Though men often leave their
country for health； or pleasure； or riches； yet to leave it
merely for a livelihood； whether this be not exceeding bad； and
sheweth some peculiar mismanagement？
448 Whether； in order to redress our evils； artificial helps are
not most wanted in a land where industry is most against the
natural grain of the people？
449 Whether； although the prepossessions about gold and silver
have taken deep root； yet the example of our Colonies in America
doth not make it as plain as day…light that they are not so
necessary to the wealth of a nation as the vulgar of all ranks
imagine？
450 Whether it be not evident that we may maintain a much greater
inward and outward commerce； and be five times richer than we
are； nay； and our bills abroad be of far greater credit； though
we had not one ounce of gold or silver in the whole island？
451 Whether wrongheaded maxims； customs； and fashions are not
sufficient to destroy any people which hath so few resources as
the inhabitants of Ireland。
452 Whether it would not be a horrible thing to see our matrons
make dress and play their chief concern？
453 Whether our ladies might not as well endow monasteries as
wear Flanders lace？ And whether it be not true that Popish nuns
are maintained by Protestant contributions？
454 Whether England； which hath a free trade； whatever she remits
for foreign luxury with one hand； doth not with the other receive
much more from abroad？ Whether； nevertheless； this nation would
not be a gainer； if our women would content themselves with the
same moderation in point of expense as the English ladies？
455 But whether it be not a notorious truth that our Irish ladies
are on a foot； as to dress； with those of five times their
fortune in England？
456 Whether it be not even certain that the matrons of this
forlorn country send out a greater proportion of its wealth； for
fine apparel； than any other females on the whole surface of this
terraqueous globe？
457 Whether the expense； great as it is； be the greatest evil；
but whether this folly may not produce many other follies； an
entire derangement of domestic life； absurd manners； neglect of
duties； bad mothers； a general corruption in both sexes？
458 Whether the first beginning of expedients do not always meet
with prejudices？ And whether even the prejudices of a people
ought not to be respected？
459 Whether a national bank be not the true philosopher's stone
in a State？
460 Whether all regulations of coin should not be made with a
view to encourage industry； and a circulation of commerce；
throughout the kingdom？
461 Whether to oil the wheels of commerce be not a common
benefit？ And whether this be not done by avoiding fractions and
multiplying small silver？
462 Whether； all things considered； a general raising the value
of gold and silver be not so far from bringing greater quantities
thereof into the kingdom that it would produce a direct contrary
effect； inasmuch as less； in that case； would serve； and
therefore less be wanted？ And whether men do not import a
commodity in proportion to the demand or want of it？
463 Whether the lowering of our gold would not create a fever in
the State？ And whether a fever be not sometimes a cu
