the querist-第2章
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39 Whether in the wastes of America a man might not possess
twenty miles square of land； and yet want his dinner； or a coat
to his back？
40 Whether a fertile land； and the industry of its inhabitants；
would not prove inexhaustible funds of real wealth； be the
counters for conveying and recording thereof what you will；
paper； gold； or silver？
41 Whether a single hint be sufficient to overcome a prejudice？
And whether even obvious truths will not sometimes bear
repeating？
42 Whether； if human labour be the true source of wealth； it doth
not follow that idleness should of all things be discouraged in a
wise State？
43 Whether even gold or silver； if they should lessen the
industry of its inhabitants； would not be ruinous to a country？
And whether Spain be not an instance of this？
44 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？
45 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？
46 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 degrees forming themselves to
business and civil life； while industry begot credit； and credit
moved to industry？
47 Whether such men would not all set themselves to work？ Whether
they would not subsist by the mutual participation of each
other's 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？ Whether this must not produce
credit？ Whether； to facilitate these conveyances； to record and
circulate this credit； they would not soon agree on certain
tallies； tokens； tickets； or counters？
48 Whether reflection in the better sort might not soon remedy
our evils？ And whether our real defect be not a wrong way of
thinking？
49 Whether it would not be an unhappy 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？
50 Whether if a man builds a house he doth not in the first place
provide a plan which governs his work？ And shall the pubic act
without an end； a view； a plan？
51 Whether by how much the less particular folk think for
themselves； the public be not so much the more obliged to think
for them？
52 Whether small gains be not the way to great profit？ And if our
tradesmen are beggars； whether they may not thank themselves for
it？
53 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？
54 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？
55 Whether there are not such things in Holland as bettering
houses for bringing young gentlemen to order？ And whether such an
institution would be useless among us？
56 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？
57 Whether he whose luxury consumeth foreign products； and whose
industry produceth nothing domestic to exchange for them； is not
so far forth injurious to his country？
58 Whether necessity is not to be hearkened to before
convenience； and convenience before luxury？
59 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？
60 Whether there be any instance of a State wherein the people；
living neatly and plentifully； did not aspire to wealth？
61 Whether nastiness and beggary do not； on the contrary；
extinguish all such ambition； making men listless； hopeless； and
slothful？
62 Whether a country inhabited by people well fed； clothed and
lodged would not become every day more populous？ And whether a
numerous stock of people in such circumstances would？ and how far
the product of not constitute a flourishing nation； our own
country may suffice for the compassing of this end？
63 Whether a people who had provided themselves with the
necessaries of life in good plenty would not soon extend their
industry to new arts and new branches of commerce？
64 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 importation； might not find encouragement in Ireland？
And whether an academy for design might not greatly conduce to
the perfecting those manufactures among us？
65 Whether France and Flanders could have drawn so much money
from England for figured silks； lace； and tapestry； if they had
not had academies for designing？
66 Whether； when a room was once prepared； and models in plaster
of Paris； the annual expense of such an academy need stand the
pubic in above two hundred pounds a year？
67 Whether our linen…manufacture would not find the benefit of
this institution？ And whether there be anything that makes us
fall short of the Dutch in damasks； diapers； and printed linen；
but our ignorance in design？
68 Whether those who may slight this affair as notional have
sufficiently considered the extensive use of the art of design；
and its influence in most trades and manufactures； wherein the
forms of things are often more regarded than the materials？
69 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 Turkey？
And whether this branch of the woollen manufacture be not open to
us？
70 Whether human industry can produce； from such cheap materials；
a manufacture of so great value by any other art as by those of
sculpture and painting？
71 Whether pictures and statues are not in fact so much treasure？
And whether Rome and Florence would not be poor towns without
them？
72 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？
73 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 allowed the woollen？
74 Whether it be true that two millions are yearly expended by
England in foreign lace and linen？
75 Whether immense sums are not drawn yearly into the Northern
countries； for supplying the British navy with hempen
manufactures？
76 Whether there be anything more profitable than。 hemp？ And
whether there should not be great premiums for encouraging our
hempen trade？ What advantages may not Great Britain make of a
country where land and labour are so cheap？
77 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 excessively dear？
78 Whether； if our own people want will or capacity for such an
attempt； it might not be worth while for some undertaking spirits
in England to make settlements； and raise hemp in the counties of
Clare and Limerick； than which； perhaps； there is not fitter land
in the world for that purpose？ And whether both nations would not
find their advantage therein？
79 Whether if all the idle hands in this kingdom were employed on
hemp and flax； we might not find sufficient vent for these
manufactures？
80 How far it may be in our own power to better our affairs；
without interfering with our neighbours？
81 Whether the prohibition of our woollen trade ought not
naturally to put us on other methods which give no jealousy？
82 Whether paper be not a valuable article of commerce？ And
whether it be not true that one single bookselle
