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The Querist
by George Berkley
1735
The Querist containing several Queries proposed to the
consideration of the Public
I the Lord have brought down the high tree； have exalted the low
tree； have dried up the green tree； and have made the dry tree to
flourish。 Ezek。 xvii； 24。
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The Querist was first published in the year one thousand seven
hundred and thirty…five； since which time the face of things is
somewhat changed。 In this edition some alterations have been
made。 The three Parts are published in one； some few Queries are
added； and many omitted； particularly of those relating to the
sketch or plan of a national bank； which it may be time enough to
take again in hand when the public shall seem disposed to make
use of such an expedient。 I had determined with myself never to
prefix my name to the Querist； but in the last edition was
overruled by a friend； who was remarkable for pursuing the public
interest with as much diligence as others do their own。 I
apprehend the same censure on this that I incurred upon another
occasion； for meddling out of my profession； though to feed the
hungry and clothe the naked； by promoting an honest industry；
will； perhaps； be deemed no improper employment for a clergyman
who still things himself a member of the commonwealth。 As the sum
of human happiness is supposed to consist in the goods of mind；
body；and fortune； I would fain make my studies of some use to
mankind with regard to each of these three particulars； and hope
it will not be thought faulty or indecent in any man； of what
profession soever； to offer his mite towards improving the
manners； health； and prosperity of his fellow…creatures。
QUERY 1 Whether there ever was； is； or will be； an industrious
nation poor； or an idle rich？
2 Whether a people can be called poor； where the common sort are
well fed； clothed； and lodged？
3 Whether the drift and aim of every wise State should not be； to
encourage industry in its members？ And whether those who employ
neither heads nor hands for the common benefit deserve not to be
expelled like drones out of a well…governed State？
4 Whether the four elements； and man's labour therein； be not the
true source of wealth？
5 Whether money be not only so far useful； as it stirreth up
industry； enabling men mutually to participate the fruits of each
other's labour？
6 Whether any other means； equally conducing to excite and
circulate the industry of mankind； may not be as useful as money。
7 Whether the real end and aim of men be not power？ And whether
he who could have everything else at his wish or will would value
money？
8 Whether the public aim in every well…governed State be not that
each member； according to his just pretensions and industry；
should have power？
9 Whether power be not referred to action； and whether action
doth not follow appetite or will？
10 Whether fashion doth not create appetites； and whether the
prevailing will of a nation is not the fashion？
11 Whether the current of industry and commerce be not determined
by this prevailing will？
12 Whether it be not owing to custom that the fashions are
agreeable？
13 Whether it may not concern the wisdom of the legislature to
interpose in the making of fashions； and not leave an affair of
so great influence to the management of women and fops； tailors
and vintners？
14 Whether reasonable fashions are a greater restraint on freedom
than those which are unreasonable？
15 Whether a general good taste in a people would not greatly
conduce to their thriving？ And whether an uneducated gentry be
not the greatest of national evils？
16 Whether customs and fashions do not supply the place of reason
in the vulgar of all ranks？ Whether； therefore； it doth not very
much import that they should be wisely framed？
17 Whether the imitating those neighbours in our fashions； to
whom we bear no likeness in our circumstances； be not one cause
of distress to this nation？
18 Whether frugal fashions in the upper rank； and comfortable
living in the lower； be not the means to multiply inhabitants？
19 Whether the bulk of our Irish natives are not kept from
thriving； by that cynical content in dirt and beggary which they
possess to a degree beyond any other people in Christendom？
20 Whether the creating of wants be not the likeliest way to
produce industry in a people？ And whether； if our peasants were
accustomed to eat beef and wear shoes； they would not be more
industrious？
21 Whether other things being given； as climate； soil； etc。； the
wealth be not proportioned to the industry； and this to the
circulation of credit； be the credit circulated or transferred by
what marks or tokens soever？
22 Whether； therefore； less money swiftly circulating； be not； in
effect； equivalent to more money slowly circulating？ Or； whether；
if the circulation be reciprocally as the quantity of coin； the
nation can be a loser？
23 Whether money is to be considered as having an intrinsic
value； or as being a commodity； a standard； a measure； or a
pledge； as is variously suggested by writers？ And whether the
true idea of money； as such； be not altogether that of a ticket
or counter？
24 Whether the value or price of things be not a compounded
proportion； directly as the demand； and reciprocally as the
plenty？
25 Whether the terms crown； livre； pound sterling； etc。； are not
to be considered as exponents or denominations of such
proportion？ And whether gold； silver； and paper are not tickets
or counters for reckoning； recording； and transferring thereof？
26 Whether the denominations being retained； although the bullion
were gone； things might not nevertheless be rated； bought； and
sold； industry promoted； and a circulation of commerce
maintained？
27 Whether an equal raising of all sorts of gold； silver； and
copper coin can have any effect in bringing money into the？ And
whether altering the proportions between the kingdom several
sorts can have any other effect but multiplying one kind and
lessening another； without any increase of the sum total？
28 Whether arbitrary changing the denomination of coin be not a
public cheat？
29 What makes a wealthy people？ Whether mines of gold and silver
are capable of doing this？ And whether the negroes； amidst the
gold sands of Afric； are not poor and destitute？
30 Whether there be any virtue in gold or silver； other than as
they set people at work； or create industry？
31 Whether it be not the opinion or will of the people； exciting
them to industry； that truly enricheth a nation？ And whether this
doth not principally depend on the means for counting；
transferring； and preserving power； that is； property of all
kinds？
32 Whether if there was no silver or gold in the kingdom； our
trade might not； nevertheless； supply bills of exchange；
sufficient to answer the demands of absentees in England or
elsewhere？
33 Whether current bank…notes may not be deemed money？ And
whether they are not actually the greater part of the money of
this kingdom？
34 Provided the wheels move； whether it is not the same thing； as
to the effect of the machine； be this done by the force of wind；
or water； or animals？
35 Whether power to command the industry of others be not real
wealth？ And whether money be not in truth tickets or tokens for
conveying and recording such power； and whether it be of great
consequence what materials the tickets are made of？
36 Whether trade； either foreign or domestic； be in truth any
more than this commerce of industry？
37 Whether to promote； transfer； and secure this commerce； and
this property in human labour； or； in other words； this power； be
not the sole means of enriching a people； and how far this may be
done independently of gold and silver？
38 Whether it were not wrong to suppose land itself to be wealth？
And whether the industry of the people is not first to be
considered； as that which constitutes wealth； which makes even
land and silver to be wealth； neither of which would have； any
value but as means and motives to industry？
39 Whether in the wastes of America a man might not possess
twenty miles square of land； and yet want his dinner； or a coat
to his back？
40 Whether a fertile land； and the industry of its inhabitants；
would not prove inexhaustible funds of real wealth； be the
counters for conveying and recording thereof what you will；
paper； gold； or silver？
41 Whether a single hint be sufficient to overcome a prejudice？
And whether even obvious truths will not sometimes bear
repeating？
42 Whether； if human labour be the true source of wealth； it doth
not follow that idleness should of all things be discouraged in a
wise State？
43 Whether even gold or silver； if they should lessen the
industry of its inhabitants； would not be ruinous to a country？
And whether Spain be not an instance of this？
44 Whether the opinion of men； and their industry consequent
thereupon； be not the true wealth of Holland and not the silver
supposed to be deposited in the bank at Amsterdam？
45 Whether there is in truth any such treasure lying dead？ And
whether it be of great con