the querist-第4章
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and provide them with the reasonable conveniences and even
comforts of life？
128 Whether a general habit of living well would not produce
numbers and industry' and whether； considering the tendency of
human kind； the consequence thereof would not be foreign trade
and riches； how unnecessary soever？
129 Whether； nevertheless； it be a crime to inquire how far we
may do without foreign trade； and what would follow on such a
supposition？
130 Whether the number and welfare of the subjects be not the
true strength of the crown？
131 Whether in all public institutions there should not be an end
proposed； which is to be the rule and limit of the means？ Whether
this end should not be the well…being of the whole？ And whether；
in order to this； the first step should not be to clothe and feed
our people？
132 Whether there be upon earth any Christian or civilized people
so beggarly； wretched； and destitute as the common Irish？
133 Whether； nevertheless； there is any other people whose wants
may be more easily supplied from home？
134 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？
135 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？
136 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 accommodate ourselves to it？
137 Whether it be not vain to think of persuading other people to
see their interest； while we continue blind to our own？
138 Whether there be any other nation possessed of so much good
land； and so many able hands to work it； which yet is beholden
for bread to foreign countries？
139 Whether it be true that we import corn to the value of two
hundred thousand pounds in some years？
140 Whether we are not undone by fashions made for other people？
And whether it be not madness in a poor nation to imitate a rich
one？
141 Whether a woman of fashion ought not to be declared a public
enemy？
142 Whether it be not certain that from the single town of Cork
were exported； in one year； no less than one hundred and seven
thousand one hundred and sixty…one barrels of beef； seven
thousand three hundred and seventy…nine barrels of pork； thirteen
thousand four hundred and sixty…one casks； and eighty…five
thousand seven hundred and twenty…seven firkins of butter？ And
what hands were employed in this manufacture？
143 Whether a foreigner could imagine that one half of the people
were starving； in a country which sent out such plenty of
provisions？
144 Whether an Irish lady； set out with French silks and Flanders
lace； may not be said to consume more beef and butter than a
hundred of our labouring peasants？
145 Whether nine…tenths of our foreign trade be not carried on
singly to support the article of vanity？
146 Whether it can be hoped that private persons will not indulge
this folly； unless restrained by the public？
147 How vanity is maintained in other countries？ Whether in
Hungary； for instance； a proud nobility are not subsisted with
small imports from abroad？
148 Whether there be a prouder people upon earth than the noble
Venetians； although they all wear plain black clothes？
149 Whether a people are to be pitied that will not sacrifice
their little particular 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？
150 Whether claret be not often drank rather for vanity than for
health； or pleasure？
151 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？
152 Do not Englishmen abroad purchase beer and cider at ten times
the price of wine？
153 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 Ireland who have even？ one hundred
pounds per annum。
154 What reasons have our neighbours in England for discouraging
French wines which may not hold with respect to us also？
155 How much of the necessary sustenance of our people is yearly
exported for brandy？
156 Whether； if people must poison themselves； they had not
better do it with their own growth？
157 If we imported neither claret from France； nor fir from
Norway； what the nation would save by it？
158 When the root yieldeth insufficient nourishment； whether men
do not top the tree to make the lower branches thrive？
159 Whether； if our ladies drank sage or balm tea out of Irish
ware； it would be an insupportable national calamity？
160 Whether it be really true that such wine is best as most
encourages drinking； i。e。； that must be given in the largest dose
to produce its effect？ And whether this holds with regard to any
other medicine？
161 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？
162 Whether it be not even madness to encourage trade with a
nation that takes nothing of our manufacture？
163 Whether Ireland can hope to thrive if the major part of her
patriots shall be found in the French interest？
164 Whether great plenty and variety of excellent wines are not
to be had on the coasts of Italy and Sicily？ And whether those
countries would not take our commodities of linen； leather；
butter； etc。 in exchange for them？
165 Particularly； whether the Vinum Mamertinum； which grows on
the mountains about Messina； a red generous wine； highly esteemed
（if we may credit Pliny） by the ancient Romans； would not come
cheap； and please the palates of our Islanders？
166 Why； if a bribe by the palate or the purse be in effect the
same thing； they should not be alike infamous？
167 Whether the vanity and luxury of a few ought to stand in
competition with the interest of a nation？
168 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 considered？
169 Whether it is possible the country should be well improved；
while our beef is exported； and our labourers live upon potatoes？
170 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？
171 What foreign imports may be necessary for clothing and
feeding the families of persons not worth above one hundred
pounds a year？ And how many wealthier there are in the kingdom；
and what proportion they bear to the other inhabitants？
172 Whether trade be not then on a right foot； when foreign
commodities are imported in exchange only for domestic
superfluities？
173 Whether the quantities of beef； butter； wool； and leather；
exported from this island； can be reckoned the superfluities of a
country； where there are so many natives naked and famished？
174 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？
175 Whether she would not be a very vile matron； and justly
thought either mad or foolish； that should give away the
necessaries of life from her naked and famished children； in
exchange for pearls to stick in her hair； and sweetmeats to
please her own palate？
176 Whether a nation might not be considered as a family？
177 Whether the remark made by a Venetian ambassador to Cardinal
Richelieu 'That France needed nothing to be rich and easy； but
to know how to spend what she dissipates' may not be of use also
to other people？
178 Whether hungry cattle will not leap over bounds？ And whether
most men are not hungry in a country where expensive fashions
obtain？
179 Whether there should not be published yearly； schedules of
our trade； containing an account of the imports and exports of
the fore
