the querist-第7节
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thereof be not infinite? But whether the ends of money itself be
not bounded?
307 Whether the total sum of all other powers; be it of enjoyment
or action; which belong to man; or to all mankind together; is
not in truth a very narrow and limited quantity? But whether
fancy is not boundless?
308 Whether this capricious tyrant; which usurps the place of
reason; doth not most cruelly torment and delude those poor men;
the usurers; stockjobbers; and projectors; of content to
themselves from heaping up riches; that is; from gathering
counters; from multiplying figures; from enlarging denominations;
without knowing what they would be at; and without having a
proper regard to the use or end or nature of things?
309 Whether the ignis fatuus of fancy doth not kindle immoderate
desires; and lead men into endless pursuits and wild labyrinths?
310 Whether counters be not referred to other things; which; so
long as they keep pace and proportion with the counters; it must
be owned the counters are useful; but whether beyond that to
value or covet counters be not direct folly?
311 Whether the public aim ought not to be; that men's industry
should supply their present wants; and the overplus be converted
into a stock of power?
312 Whether the better this power is secured; and the more easily
it is transferred; industry be not so much the more encouraged?
313 Whether money; more than is expedient for those purposes; be
not upon the whole hurtful rather than beneficial to a State?
314 Whether the promoting of industry should not be always in
view; as the true and sole end; the rule and measure; of a
national bank? And whether all deviations from that object should
not be carefully avoided?
315 Whether it may not be useful; for supplying manufactures and
trade with stock; for regulating exchange; for quickening
commerce; for putting spirit into the people?
316 Whether we are sufficiently sensible of the peculiar security
there is in having a bank that consists of land and paper; one of
which cannot be exported; and the other is in no danger of being
exported?
317 Whether it be not delightful to complain? And whether there
be not many who had rather utter their complaints than redress
their evils?
318 Whether; if 'the crown of the wise be their riches' (Prov。;
xiv。24); we are not the foolishest people in Christendom?
319 Whether we have not all the while great civil as well as
natural advantages?
320 Whether there be any people who have more leisure to
cultivate the arts of peace; and study the public weal?
321 Whether other nations who enjoy any share of freedom; and
have great objects in view; be not unavoidably embarrassed and
distracted by factions? But whether we do not divide upon
trifles; and whether our parties are not a burlesque upon
politics?
322 Whether it be not an advantage that we are not embroiled in
foreign affairs; that we hold not the balance of Europe; that we
are protected by other fleets and armies; that it is the true
interest of a powerful people; from whom we are descended; to
guard us on all sides?
323 Whether England doth not really love us and wish well to us;
as bone of her bone; and flesh of her flesh? And whether it be
not our part to cultivate this love and affection all manner of
ways?
324 What sea…ports or foreign trade have the Swisses; and yet how
warm are those people; and how well provided?
325 Whether there may not be found a people who so contrive as to
be impoverished by their trade? And whether we are not that
people?
326 Whether it would not be better for this island; if all our
fine folk of both sexes were shipped off; to remain in foreign
countries; rather than that they should spend their estates at
home in foreign luxury; and spread the contagion thereof through
their native land?
327 Whether our gentry understand or have a notion of
magnificence; and whether for want thereof they do not affect
very wretched distinctions?
328 Whether there be not an art or skill in governing human
pride; so as to render it subservient to the pubic aim?
329 Whether the great and general aim of the public should not be
to employ the people?
330 What right an eldest son hath to the worst education?
331 Whether men's counsels are not the result of their knowledge
and their principles?
332 Whether there be not labour of the brains as well as of the
hands; and whether the former is beneath a gentleman?
333 Whether the public be more interested to protect the property
acquired by mere birth than that which is the Mediate fruit of
learning and virtue?
334 Whether it would not be a poor and ill…judged project to
attempt to promote the good of the community; by invading the
rights of one part thereof; or of one particular order of men?
335 Whether there be a more wretched; and at the same time a more
unpitied case; than for men to make precedents for their own
undoing?
336 Whether to determine about the rights and properties of men
by other rules than the law be not dangerous?
337 Whether those men who move the corner…stones of a
constitution may not pull an old house on their own heads?
338 Whether there be not two general methods whereby men become
sharers in the national stock of wealth or power; industry and
inheritance? And whether it would be wise in a civil society to
lessen that share which is allotted to merit and industry?
339 Whether all ways of spending a fortune be of equal benefit to
the public; and what sort of men are aptest to run into an
improper expense?
340 If the revenues allotted for the encouragement of religion
and learning were made hereditary in the hands of a dozen lay
lords and as many overgrown commoners; whether the public would
be much the better for it?
341 Whether the Church's patrimony belongs to one tribe alone;
and whether every man's son; brother; or himself; may not; if he
please; be qualified to share therein?
342 What is there in the clergy to create a jealousy in the
public? Or what would the public lose by it; if every squire in
the land wore a black coat; said his prayers; and was obliged to
reside?
343 Whether there be anything perfect under the sun? And whether
it be not with the world as with a particular State; and with a
State or body politic as with the human body; which lives and
moves under various indispositions; perfect health being seldom
or never to be found?
344 Whether; nevertheless; men should not in all things aim at
perfection? And; therefore; whether any wise and good man would
be against applying remedies? But whether it is not natural to
wish for a benevolent physician?
345 Whether the public happiness be not proposed by the
legislature; and whether such happiness doth not contain that of
the individuals?
346 Whether; therefore; a legislator should be content with a
vulgar share of knowledge? Whether he should not be a person of
reflexion and thought; who hath made it his study to understand
the true nature and interest of mankind; how to guide men's
humours and passions; how to incite their active powers; how to
make their several talents co…operate to the mutual benefit of
each other; and the general good of the whole?
347 Whether it doth not follow that above all things a
gentleman's care should be to keep his own faculties sound and
entire?
348 Whether the natural phlegm of this island needs any
additional stupefier?
349 Whether all spirituous liquors are not in truth opiates?
350 Whether our men of business are not generally very grave by
fifty?
351 Whether all men have not faculties of mind or body which may
be employed for the public benefit?
352 Whether the main point be not to multiply and employ our
people?
353 Whether hearty food and warm clothing would not enable and
encourage the lower sort to labour?
354 Whether; in such a soil as ours; if there was industry; there
could be want?
355 Whether the way to make men industrious be not to let them
taste the fruits of their industry? And whether the labouring ox
should be muzzled?
356 Whether our landlords are to be told that industry and
numbers would raise the value of their lands; or that one acre
about the Tholsel is worth ten thousand acres in Connaught?
357 Whether our old native Irish are not the most indolent and
supine people in Christendom?
358 Whether they are yet civilized; and whether their habitations
and furniture are not more sordid than those of the savage
Americans?
359 Whether it be not a sad circumstance to live among lazy
beggars? And whether; on the other hand; it would not be
delightful to live in a country swarming; like China; with busy
people?
360 Whether we should not cast about; by all manner of means; to
excite industry; and to remove whatever hinders it? And whether
every one should not lend a helping hand?
361 Whether vanity itself should not be engaged in this good
work? And whether it is not to be wished that the finding of
employment for themselves and others were a fashionable
distinction among the ladies?
362 Whether idleness be the mother or the daughter of spleen?
363 Whether it may not be worth while to