the querist-第3章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
82 Whether paper be not a valuable article of commerce？ And
whether it be not true that one single bookseller in London
yearly expended above four thousand pounds in that foreign
commodity？
83 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？
84 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？
85 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 necessities of the kingdom？
86 Whether other countries have not flourished without the
woollen trade？
87 Whether it be not a sure sign or effect of a country's
inhabitants？ And； thriving； to see it well cultivated and full
of； if so； whether a great quantity of sheep…walk be not ruinous
to a country； rendering it waste and thinly inhabited？
88 Whether the employing so much of our land under sheep be not
in fact an Irish blunder？
89 Whether our hankering after our woollen trade be not the true
and only reason which hath created a jealousy in England towards
Ireland？ And whether anything can hurt us more than such
jealousy？
90 Whether it be not the true interest of both nations to become
one people？ And whether either be sufficiently apprised of this？
91 Whether the upper part of this people are not truly English；
by blood； language； religion； manners； inclination； and interest？
92 Whether we are not as much Englishmen as the children of old
Romans； born in Britain； were still Romans？
93 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？
94 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 whether there were not mints
in Naples and Sicily； when those kingdoms were provinces to Spain
or the house of Austria？
95 Whether anything can be more ridiculous than for the north of
Ireland to be jealous of a linen manufacturer in the south？
96 Whether the county of Tipperary 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？
97 Whether every landlord in the kingdom doth not know the cause
of this？ And yet how few are the better for such their knowledge？
98 Whether large farms under few hands； or small ones under many；
are likely to be made most of？ And whether flax and tillage do
not naturally multiply hands； and divide land into small
holdings； and well…improved？
99 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 great consequence therefore are fashions to the
public？
100 Whether it would not be more reasonable to mend our state
than to complain of it； and how far this may be in our own power？
101 What the nation gains by those who live in Ireland upon the
produce of foreign Countries？
102 How far the vanity of our ladies in dressing； and of our
gentlemen in drinking； contributes to the general misery of the
people？
103 Whether nations； as wise and opulent as ours； have not made
sumptuary laws； and what hinders us from doing the same？
104 Whether those who drink foreign liquors； and deck themselves
and their families with foreign ornaments； are not so far forth
to be reckoned absentees？
105 Whether； as our trade is limited； we ought not to limit our
expenses； and whether this be not the natural and obvious remedy？
106 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 conveniences of the
rich would not soon follow？
107 Whether comfortable living doth not produce wants； and wants
industry； and industry wealth？
108 Whether there is not a great difference between Holland and
Ireland？ And whether foreign commerce； without which the one
could not subsist； be so necessary for the other？
109 Might we not put a hand to the plough； or the spade； although
we had no foreign commerce？
110 Whether the exigencies of nature are not to be answered by
industry on our own soil？ And how far the conveniences and
comforts of life may be procured by a domestic commerce between
the several parts of this kingdom？
111 Whether the women may not sew； spin； weave； embroider
sufficiently for the embellishment of their persons； and even
enough to raise envy in each other； without being beholden to
foreign countries？
112 Suppose the bulk of our inhabitants had shoes to their feet；
clothes 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 cider？
113 Whether； if drunkenness be a necessary evil； men may not as
well drink the growth of their own country？
114 Whether a nation within itself might not have real wealth；
sufficient to give its inhabitants power and distinction； without
the help of gold and silver？
115 Whether； if the arts of sculpture and painting were
encouraged among us； we might not furnish our houses in a much
nobler manner with our own manufactures？
116 Whether we have not； or may not have； all the necessary
materials for building at home？
117 Whether tiles and plaster may not supply the place of Norway
fir for flooring and wainscot？
118 Whether plaster be not warmer； as well as more secure； than
deal？ And whether a modern fashionable house； lined with fir；
daubed over with oil and paint； be not like a fire…ship； ready to
be lighted up by all accidents？
119 Whether larger houses； better built and furnished； a greater
train of servants； the difference with regard to equipage and
table between finer and coarser； more and less elegant； may not
be sufficient to feed a reasonable share of vanity； or support
all proper distinctions？ And whether all these may not be
procured by domestic industry out of the four elements； without
ransacking the four quarters of the globe？
120 Whether anything 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 sculpture and painting；
and whether this may not be compassed without foreign trade？
121 Whether an expense in gardens and plantations would not be an
elegant distinction for the rich； a domestic magnificence
employing many hands within； and drawing nothing from abroad？
122 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？
123 Whether one may not be allowed to conceive and suppose a
society or nation of human creatures； clad in woollen cloths and
stuffs； eating good bread； beef and mutton； poultry and fish； in
great plenty； drinking ale； mead； and cider； inhabiting decent
houses built of brick and marble； 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？
124 Whether Ireland be not as well qualified for such a state as
any nation under the sun？
125 Whether in such a state the inhabitants may not contrive to
pass the twenty…four hours with tolerable ease and cheerfulness？
And whether any people upon earth can do more？
126 Whether they may not eat； drink； play； dress； visit； sleep in
good beds； sit by good fires； build； plant； raise a name； make
estates； and spend them？
127 Whether； upon the whole； a domestic trade may not suffice in
such a country as Ireland； to nourish and clothe its inhabitants；
and provide them with the reasonable conveniences and even
comforts of life？
128 Whether a g
