the querist-第12章
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as what is made by domestic industry is spent in foreign luxury？
512 Whether our natural Irish are not partly Spaniards and partly
Tartars； and whether they do not bear signatures of their descent
from both these nations； which is also confirmed by all their
histories？
513 Whether the Tartar progeny is not numerous in this land？ And
whether there is an idler occupation under the sun than to attend
flocks and herds of cattle？
514 Whether the wisdom of the State should not wrestle with this
hereditary disposition of our Tartars； and with a high hand
introduce agriculture？
515 Whether once upon a time France did not； by her linen alone；
draw yearly from Spain about eight millions of livres？
516 Whether the French have not suffered in their linen trade
with Spain； by not making their cloth of due breadth； and whether
any other people have suffered； and are still likely to suffer；
through the same prevarication？
517 Whether the Spaniards are not rich and lazy； and whether they
have not a particular inclination and favour for the inhabitants
of this island？ But whether a punctual people do not love
punctual dealers？
518 Whether about fourteen years ago we had not come into a
considerable share of the linen trade with Spain； and what put a
stop to this？
519 Whether； if the linen manufacture were carried on in the
other provinces as well as in the North； the merchants of Cork；
Limerick； and Galway would not soon find the way to Spain？
520 Whether the woollen manufacture of England is not divided
into several parts or branches； appropriated to particular
places； where they are only or principally manufactured； fine
cloths in Somersetshire； coarse in Yorkshire； long ells at
Exeter； saies at Sudbury； crapes at Norwich； linseys at Kendal；
blankets at Witney； and so forth？
521 Whether the united skill； industry； and emulation of many
together on the same work be not the way to advance it？ And
whether it had been otherwise possible for England to have
carried on her woollen manufacture to so great perfection？
522 Whether it would not on many accounts be right if we observed
the same course with respect to our linen manufacture； and that
diapers were made in one town or district； damasks in another；
sheeting in a third； fine wearing linen in a fourth； coarse in a
fifth； in another cambrics； in another thread and stockings； in
others stamped linen； or striped linen； or tickings； or dyed
linen； of which last kinds there is so great a consumption among
the seafaring men of all nations？
523 Whether it may not be worth while to inform ourselves of the
different sorts of linen which are in request among different
people？
524 Whether we do not yearly consume of French wines about a
thousand tuns more than either Sweden or Denmark； and yet whether
those nations pay ready money as we do？
525 Whether it be not a custom for some thousands of Frenchmen to
go about the beginning of March into Spain； and having tilled the
lands and gathered the harvest of Spain； to return home with
money in their pockets about the end of November？
526 Whether of late years our Irish labourers do not carry on the
same business in England to the great discontent of many there？
But whether we have not much more reason than the people of
England to be displeased at this commerce？
527 Whether； notwithstanding the cash supposed to be brought into
it； any nation is； in truth； a gainer by such traffic？
528 Whether the industry of our people employed in foreign lands；
while our own are left uncultivated； be not a great loss to the
country？
529 Whether it would not be much better for us； if； instead of
sending our men abroad； we could draw men from the neighbouring
countries to cultivate our own？
530 Whether； nevertheless； we are not apt to think the money
imported by our labourers to be so much clear gains to this
country； but whether a little reflexion and a little political
arithmetic may not shew us our mistake？
531 Whether our prejudices about gold and silver are not very apt
to infect or misguide our judgments and reasonings about the
public weal？
532 Whether it be not a good rule whereby to judge of the trade
of any city； and its usefulness； to observe whether there is a
circulation through the extremities； and whether the people round
about are busy and warm？
533 Whether we had not； some years since； a manufacture of hats
at Athlone； and of earthenware at Arklow； and what became of
those manufactures？
534 Why we do not make tiles of our own； for flooring and
roofing； rather than bring them from Holland？
535 What manufactures are there in France and Venice of
gilt…leather； how cheap and how splendid a furniture？
536 Whether we may not； for the same use； manufacture divers
things at home of more beauty and variety than wainscot； which is
imported at such expense from Norway？
537 Whether the use and the fashion will not soon make a
manufacture？
538 Whether； if our gentry used to drink mead and cider； we
should not soon have those liquors in the utmost perfection and
plenty？
539 Whether it be not wonderful that with such pastures； and so
many black cattle； we do not find ourselves in cheese？
540 Whether great profits may not be made by fisheries； but
whether those of our Irish who live by that business do not
contrive to be drunk and unemployed one half of the year？
541 Whether it be not folly to think an inward commerce cannot
enrich a State； because it doth not increase its quantity of gold
and silver？ And whether it is possible a country should？ not
thrive； while wants are supplied； and business goes on？
542 Whether plenty of all the necessaries and comforts of life be
not real wealth？
543 Whether Lyons； by the advantage of her midland situation and
the rivers Rhone and Saone； be not a great magazine or mart for
inward commerce？ And whether she doth not maintain a constant
trade with most parts of France； with Provence for oils and dried
fruits； for wines and cloth with Languedoc； for stuffs with
Champagne； for linen with Picardy； Normandy； and Brittany； for
corn with Burgundy？
544 Whether she doth not receive and utter all those commodities；
and raise a profit from the distribution thereof； as well as of
her own manufactures； throughout the kingdom of France？
545 Whether the charge of making good roads and navigable rivers
across the country would not be really repaid by an inward
commerce？
546 Whether； as our trade and manufactures increased； magazines
should not be established in proper places； fitted by their
situation； near great roads and navigable rivers； lakes； or
canals； for the ready reception and distribution of all sorts of
commodities from and to the several parts of the kingdom； and
whether the town of Athlone； for instance； may not be fitly
situated for such a magazine； or centre of domestic commerce？
547 Whether an inward trade would not cause industry to flourish；
and multiply the circulation of our coin； and whether this may
not do as well as multiplying the coin itself？
548 Whether the benefits of a domestic commerce are sufficiently
understood and attended to； and whether the cause thereof be not
the prejudiced and narrow way of thinking about gold and silver？
549 Whether there be any other more easy and unenvied method of
increasing the wealth of a people？
550 Whether we of this island are not from our peculiar
circumstances determined to this very commerce above any other；
from the number of necessaries and good things that we possess
within ourselves； from the extent and variety of our soil； from
the navigable rivers and good roads which we have or may have； at
a less expense than any people in Europe； from our great plenty
of materials for manufactures； and particularly from the
restraints we lie under with regard to our foreign trade？
551 Whether annual inventories should not be published of the
fairs throughout the kingdom； in order to judge of the growth of
its commerce？
552 Whether there be not every year more cash circulated at the
card tables of Dublin than at all the fairs of Ireland？
553 Whether the wealth of a country will no
