the querist-第3节
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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 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 restrai
