The Querist · George Berkeley
Part II
140. Qu. 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? 141. Qu. Whether a national bank may not prevent the drawing of specie out of the country (where it circulates in small payments), to be shut up in the chests of particular persons? 142. Qu. 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? 143. Qu. Whether tenants or debtors could have cause to complain of our monies being reduced to the English value if it were withal multiplied in the same, or in a greater proportion? and whether this would not be the consequence of a nation al bank? 144. Qu. If there be an open sure way to thrive, without hazard to ourselves or prejudice to our neighbours, what should hinder us from putting it in practice? 145. Qu. Whether in so numerous a Senate, as that of this kingdom, it may not be easie to find men of pure hands and clear heads fit to contrive and model a public bank? 146. Qu. Whether a view of the precipice be not sufficient, or whether we must tumble headlong before we are roused?
147. Qu. Whether in this drooping and dispirited country, men are quite awake? 148. Qu. 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? 149. Qu. Whether it be not delightful to complain? And whether there be not many who had rather utter their complaints than redress their evils? 150. Qu. Whether, if 'the crown of the wise be their riches' (Prov., xiv.24), we are not the foolishest people in Christendom? 151. Qu. Whether we have not all the while great civil as well as natural advantages? 152. Qu. Whether there be any people who have more leisure to cultivate the arts of peace, and study the public weal? 153. Qu. 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? 154. Qu. 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?
155. Qu. 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? 156. Qu. Whether, if we do not reap the benefits that may be made of our country and government, want of will in the lower people, or want of wit in the upper, be most in fault? 157. Qu. What sea-ports or foreign trade have the Swisses; and yet how warm are those people, and how well provided? 158. Qu. 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? 159. Qu. 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? 160. Qu. Whether our gentry understand or have a notion of magnificence, and whether for want thereof they do not affect very wretched distinctions? 161. Qu. Whether there be not an art or skill in governing human pride, so as to render it subservient to the pubic aim?
162. Qu. Whether the great and general aim of the public should not be to employ the people? 163. Qu. What right an eldest son hath to the worst education? 164. Qu. Whether men's counsels are not the result of their knowledge and their principles? 165. Qu. Whether an assembly of freethinkers, petit maitres, and smart Fellows would not make an admirable Senate? 166. Qu. Whether there be not labour of the brains as well as of the hands, and whether the former is beneath a gentleman? 167. Qu. Whether the public be more interested to protect the property acquired by mere birth than that which is the Mediate fruit of learning and vertue? 168. Qu. 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? 169. Qu. Whether the public happiness be not proposed by the legislature, and whether such happiness doth not contain that of the individuals? 170. Qu. 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?
171. Qu. Whether it doth not follow that above all things a gentleman's care should be to keep his own faculties sound and entire? 172. Qu. Whether the natural phlegm of this island needs any additional stupefier? 173. Qu. Whether all spirituous liquors are not in truth opiates? 174. Qu. Whether our men of business are not generally very grave by fifty? 175. Qu. Whether there be really among us any parents so silly, as to encourage drinking in their children? 176. Qu. Whence it is, that our ladies are more alive, and bear age so much better than our gentlemen? 177. Qu. Whether all men have not faculties of mind or body which may be employed for the public benefit? 178. Qu. Whether the main point be not to multiply and employ our people? 179. Qu. Whether hearty food and warm clothing would not enable and encourage the lower sort to labour? 180. Qu. Whether, in such a soil as ours, if there was industry, there could be want? 181. Qu. 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? 182. Qu. 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?
183. Qu. Whether our old native Irish are not the most indolent and supine people in Christendom? 184. Qu. Whether they are yet civilized, and whether their habitations and furniture are not more sordid than those of the savage Americans? 185. Qu. Whether this be altogether their own fault? 186. Qu. 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? 187. Qu. 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? 188. Qu. 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? 189. Qu. Whether idleness be the mother or the daughter of spleen? 190. Qu. Whether it may not be worth while to publish the conversation of Ischomachus and his wife in Xenophon, for the use of our ladies? 191. Qu. Whether it is true that there have been, upon a time, one hundred millions of people employed in China, without the woollen trade, or any foreign commerce?
192. Qu. Whether the natural inducements to sloth are not greater in the Mogul's country than in Ireland, and yet whether, in that suffocating and dispiriting climate, the Banyans are not all, men, women, and children, constantly employed? 193. Qu. Whether it be not true that the great Mogul's subjects might undersell us even in our own markets, and clothe our people with their stuffs and calicoes, if they were imported duty free? 194. Qu. Whether there can be a greater reproach on the leading men and the patriots of a country, than that the people should want employment? And whether methods may not be found to employ even the lame and the blind, the dumb, the deaf, and the maimed, in some or other branch of our manufactures? 195. Qu. Whether much may not be expected from a biennial consultation of so many wise men about the public good? 196. Qu. Whether a tax upon dirt would not be one way of encouraging industry? 197. Qu. Whether it may not be right to appoint censors in every parish to observe and make returns of the idle hands? 198. Qu. Whether a register or history of the idleness and industry of a people would be an useless thing? 199. Qu. Whether we are apprized, of all the uses that may be made of political arithmetic?
200. Qu. Whether it would be a great hardship if every parish were obliged to find work for their poor? 201. Qu. Whether children especially should not be inured to labour betimes? 202. Qu. Whether there should not be erected, in each province, an hospital for orphans and foundlings, at the expense of old bachelors? 203. Qu. Whether it be true that in the Dutch workhouses things are so managed that a child four years old may earn its own livelihood? 204. Qu. What a folly is it to build fine houses, or establish lucrative posts and large incomes, under the notion of providing for the poor? 205. Qu. Whether the poor, grown up and in health, need any other provision but their own industry, under public inspection? 206. Qu. Whether the poor-tax in England hath lessened or increased the number of the poor? 207. Qu. Why the workhouse in Dublin, with so good an endowment, should yet be of so little use? and whether this may not be owing to that very endowment? 208. Qu. Whether that income might not, by this time, have gone through the whole kingdom, and erected a dozen workhouses in every county? 209. Qu. Whether workhouses should not be made at the least expense, with clay floors, and walls of rough stone, without plastering, ceiling, or glazing?
210. Qu. Whether the tax on chairs or hackney coaches be not paid, rather by the country gentlemen, than the citizens of Dublin? 211. Qu. Whether it be an impossible attempt to set our people at work, or whether industry be a habit which, like other habits, may by time and skill be introduced among any people? 212. Qu. Whether all manner of means should not be employed to possess the nation in general with an aversion and contempt for idleness and all idle folk? 213. Qu. Whether it would be a hardship on people destitute of all things, if the public furnished them with necessaries which they should be obliged to earn by their labour? 214. Qu. Whether other nations have not found great benefit from the use of slaves in repairing high roads, making rivers navigable, draining bogs, erecting public buildings, bridges, and manufactures? 215. Qu. Whether temporary servitude would not be the best cure for idleness and beggary? 216. Qu. Whether the public hath not a right to employ those who cannot or who will not find employment for themselves? 217. Qu. Whether all sturdy beggars should not be seized and made slaves to the public for a certain term of years? 218. Qu. Whether he who is chained in a jail or dungeon hath not, for the time, lost his liberty? And if so, whether temporary slavery be not already admitted among us?
219. Qu. Whether a state of servitude, wherein he should be well worked, fed, and clothed, would not be a preferment to such a fellow? 220. Qu. Whether criminals in the freest country may not forfeit their liberty, and repair the damage they have done the public by hard labour? 221. Qu. What the word 'servant' signifies in the New Testament? 222. Qu. Whether the view of criminals chained in pairs and kept at hard labour would not be very edifying to the multitude? 223. Qu. Whether the want of such an institution be not plainly seen in England, where the disbelief of a future state hardeneth rogues against the fear of death, and where, through the great growth of robbers and housebreakers, it becomes every day more necessary? 224. Qu. Whether it be not easier to prevent than to remedy, and whether we should not profit by the example of others? 225. Qu. Whether felons are not often spared, and therefore encouraged, by the compassion of those who should prosecute them? 226. Qu. Whether many that would not take away the life of a thief may not nevertheless be willing to bring him to a more adequate punishment? 227. Qu. Whether there should not be a difference between the treatment of criminals and that of other slaves? 228. Qu. Whether the most indolent would be fond of idleness, if they regarded it as the sure road to hard labour?
229. Qu. Whether the industry of the lower part of our people doth not much depend on the expense of the upper? 230. Qu. What would be the consequence if our gentry affected to distinguish themselves by fine houses rather than fine clothes? 231. Qu. Whether any people in Europe are so meanly provided with houses and furniture, in proportion to their incomes, as the men of estates in Ireland? 232. Qu. Whether building would not peculiarly encourage all other arts in this kingdom? 233. Qu. Whether smiths, masons, bricklayers, plasterers, carpenters, joiners, tilers, plumbers, and glaziers would not all find employment if the humour of building prevailed? 234. Qu. Whether the ornaments and furniture of a good house do not employ a number of all sorts of artificers, in iron, wood, marble, brass, pewter, copper, wool, flax, and divers other materials? 235. Qu. Whether in buildings and gardens a great number of day-labourers do not find employment? 236. Qu. Whether by these means much of that sustenance and wealth of this nation which now goes to foreigners would not be kept at home, and nourish and circulate among our own people? 237. Qu. Whether, as industry produced good living, the number of hands and mouths would not be increased; and in proportion thereunto, whether there would not be every day more occasion for agriculture? And whether this article alone would not employ a world of people?
238. Qu. Whether such management would not equally provide for the magnificence of the rich, and the necessities of the poor? 239. Qu. Whether an expense in building and improvements doth not remain at home, pass to the heir, and adorn the public? And whether any of those things can be said of claret? 240. Qu. Whether fools do not make fashions, and wise men follow them? 241. Qu. Whether, for one who hurts his fortune by improvements, twenty do not ruin themselves by foreign luxury? 242. Qu. Whether in proportion as Ireland was improved and beautified by fine seats, the number of absentees would not decrease? 243. Qu. Whether he who employs men in buildings and manufactures doth not put life in the country, and whether the neighbourhood round him be not observed to thrive? 244. Qu. Whether money circulated on the landlord's own lands, and among his own tenants, doth not return into his own pocket? 245. Qu. Whether every squire that made his domain swarm with busy hands, like a bee-hive or ant-hill, would not serve his own interest, as well as that of his country? 246. Qu. Whether a gentleman who hath seen a little of the world, and observed how men live elsewhere, can contentedly sit down in a cold, damp, sordid habitation, in the midst of a bleak country, inhabited by thieves and beggars?
247. Qu. Whether, on the other hand, a handsome seat amidst well-improved lands, fair villages, and a thriving neighbourhood may not invite a man to dwell on his own estate, and quit the life of an insignificant saunterer about town for that of a useful country-gentleman? 248. Qu. Whether it would not be of use and ornament if the towns throughout this kingdom were provided with decent churches, townhouses, workhouses, market-places, and paved streets, with some order taken for cleanliness? 249. Qu. Whether, if each of these towns were addicted to some peculiar manufacture, we should not find that the employing many hands together on the same work was the way to perfect our workmen? And whether all these things might not soon be provided by a domestic industry, if money were not wanting? 250. Qu. Whether money could ever be wanting to the demands of industry, if we had a national bank? 251. Qu. Whether when a motion was made once upon a time to establish a private bank in this kingdom by public authority, divers gentlemen did not shew themselves forward to embark in that design? 252. Qu. Whether it may not now be hoped, that our patriots will be as forward to examine and consider the proposal of a public bank calculated only for the public good? 253. Qu. Whether any people upon earth shew a more early zeal for the service of their country, greater eagerness to bear a part in the legislature, or a more general parturiency with respect to politics and public counsels? 254. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, a light and ludicrous vein be not the reigning humour; but whether there was ever greater cause to be serious? Qu. 168, for Indulg'd, read ill judg'd.
Ideas discussed in this chapter
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.