the querist-第17节
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！
65 Suppose a power in the government to hurt the pubic by means
of a national bank； yet what should give them the will to do
this？ Or supposing a will to do mischief； yet how could a
national bank； modelled and administered by Parliament； put it in
their power？
66 Whether even a wicked will entrusted with power can be
supposed to abuse it for no end？
67 Whether it be not much more probable that those who maketh
such objections do not believe them？
68 Whether it be not vain to object that our fellow…subjects of
Great Britain would malign or obstruct our industry when it is
exerted in a way which cannot interfere with their own？
69 Whether it is to be supposed they should take delight in the
dirt and nakedness and famine of our people； or envy them shoes
for their feet and beef for their belies？
70 What possible handle or inclination could our having a
national bank give other people to distress us？
71 Whether it be not ridiculous to conceive that a project for
cloathing and feeding our natives should give any umbrage to
England？
72 Whether such unworthy surmises are not the pure effect of
spleen？
78 Whether the Protestant colony in this kingdom can ever forget
what they owe to England？
79 Whether there ever was in any part of the world a country in
such wretched circumstances； and which； at the same time； could
be so easily remedied； and nevertheless the remedy not applied？
80 What must become of a people that can neither see the plainest
things nor do the easiest？
81 Be the money lodged in the bank what it will； yet whether an
Act to make good deficiencies would not remove all scruples？
82 If it be objected that a national bank must lower interest；
and therefore hurt the monied man； whether the same objection
would not hold as strong against multiplying our gold and silver？
83 But whether a bank that utters bills； with the sole view of
promoting the public weal； may not so proportion their quantity
as to avoid several inconveniencies which might attend private
banks？
85 Whether anything be more reasonable than that the pubic； which
makes the whole profit of the bank； should engage to make good
its credit？
88 Whether； in order to make men see and feel； it be not often
necessary to inculcate the same thing； and place it in different
lights？
90 Whether the managers and officers of a national bank ought to
be considered otherwise than as the cashiers and clerks of
private banks？ Whether they are not in effect as little trusted；
have as little power； are as much limited by rules； and as liable
to inspection？
91 Whether the mistaking this point may not create some prejudice
against a national bank； as if it depended on the credit； or
wisdom； or honesty； of private men； rather than on the pubic；
which is really the sole proprietor and director thereof； and as
such obliged to support it？
93 Whether a national bank would not be the great means and
motive for employing our poor in manufactures？
94 Whether money； though lent out only to the rich； would not
soon circulate among the poor？ And whether any man borrows but
with an intent to circulate？
95 Whether both government and people would not in the event be
gainers by a national bank？ And whether anything but wrong
conceptions of its nature can make those that wish well to either
averse from it？
96 Whether it may not be right to think； and to have it thought；
that England and Ireland； prince and people； have one and the
same interest？
97 Whether； if we had more means to set on foot such manufactures
and such commerce as consists with the interest of England； there
would not of course be less sheep…walk； and less wool exported to
foreign countries？ And whether a national bank would not supply
such means？
102 Whether business in general doth not languish among us？
Whether our land is not untilled？ Whether its inhabitants are not
upon the wing？
104 Whether our circumstances do not call aloud for some present
remedy？ And whether that remedy be not in our power？
106 Whether； of all the helps to industry that ever were
invented； there be any more secure； more easy； and more effectual
than a national bank？
107 Whether medicines do not recommend themselves by experience；
even though their reasons be obscure？ But whether reason and fact
are not equally clear in favour of this political medicine？
117 Whether therefore a tax on all gold and silver in apparel； on
all foreign laces and silks； may not raise a fund for the bank；
and at the same time have other salutary effects on the public？
118 But； if gentlemen had rather tax themselves in another way；
whether an additional tax of ten shillings the hogshead on wines
may not supply a sufficient fund for the national bank； all
defects to be made good by Parliament？
119 Whether upon the whole it may not be right to appoint a
national bank？
120 Whether the stock and security of such bank would not be； in
truth； the national stock； or the total sum of the wealth of this
kingdom？
121 Whether； nevertheless； there should not be a particular fund
for present use in answering bills and circulating credit？
122 Whether for this end any fund may not suffice； provided an
Act be passed for making good deficiencies？
123 Whether the sole proprietor of such bank should not be the
public； and the sole director the legislature？
124 Whether the managers； officers； and cashiers should not be
servants of the pubic； acting by orders and limited by rules of
the legislature？
125 Whether there should not be a standing number of inspectors；
one…third men in great office； the rest members of both houses；
half whereof to go out； and half to come in every session？
126 Whether those inspectors should not； all in a body； visit
twice a year； and three as often as they pleased？
127 Whether the general bank should not be in Dubin； and
subordinate banks or compters one in each province of Munster；
Ulster； and Connaught？
128 Whether there should not be such provisions of stamps；
signatures； checks； strong boxes； and all other measures for
securing the bank notes and cash； as are usual in other banks？
129 Whether these ten or a dozen last queries may not easily be
converted into heads of a bill？
130 Whether any one concerns himself about the security or funds
of the banks of Venice or Amsterdam？ And whether in a little time
the case would not be the same as to our bank？
133 Whether it be not the most obvious remedy for all the
inconveniencies we labour under with regard to our coin？
134 Whether it be not agreed on all hands that our coin is on
very bad foot； and calls for some present remedy？
135 Whether the want of silver hath not introduced a sort of
traffic for change； which is purchased at no inconsiderable
discount to the great obstruction of our domestic commerce？
136 Whether； though it be evident silver is wanted； it be yet so
evident which is the best way of providing for this want？ Whether
by lowering the gold； or raising the silver； or partly one；
partly the other？
137 Whether a partial raising of one species be not； in truth；
wanting a premium to our bankers for importing such species？ And
what that species is which deserves most to be encouraged？
138 Whether it be not just that all gold should be alike rated
according to its weight and fineness？
139 Whether this may be best done by lowering some certain
species of gold； or by raising others； or by joining both methods
together？
141 Whether the North and the South have not； in truth； one and
the same interest in this matter？
143 But； whether a pubic benefit ought to be obtained by unjust
methods； and therefore； whether any reduction of coin should be
thought of which may hurt the properties of private men？
144 Whether those parts of the kingdom where commerce doth most
abound would not be the greatest gainers by having our coin
placed on a right foot？
145 Whether； in case a reduction of coin be thought expedient；
the uttering of bank bills at the same time may not prevent the
inconveniencies of such a reduction？
146 But； whether any pubic expediency could countervail a real
pressure on those who are least able to bear it； tenants and
debtors？
147 Whether； nevertheless； the political body； as well as the
natural； must not sometimes be worse in order to be better？
150 What if our other gold were raised to a par with Portugal
gold； and the value of silver in general raised with regard to
that of gold？
151 Whether the pubic ends may or may not be better answered by
such augmentation； than by a reduction of our coin？
152 Provided silver is multiplied； be it by raising or
diminishing the value of our coin； whether the great end is not
answered？
154 Whether； if a reduction be thought necessary； the obvious
means to prevent all hardships and injustice be not a national
bank？
155 Upon supposition that the cash of this kingdom was five
hundred thousand pounds； and by lowering the various species each
one…fifth of its value the whole sum was reduced to four hundred
thousand pounds； whether the difficulty of getting money； and
consequently of paying rents； would not b
