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than when they had gold and silver current among them？
254 Whether a view of the ruinous effects of absurd schemes and
credit mismanaged； so as to produce gaming and madness instead of
industry； can be any just objection against a national bank
calculated purely to promote industry？
255 Whether a scheme for the welfare of this nation should not
take in the whole inhabitants？ And whether it be not a vain
attempt； to project the flourishing of our Protestant gentry；
exclusive of the bulk of the natives？
256 Whether an oath； testifying allegiance to the king； and
disclaiming the pope's authority in temporals； may not be justly
required of the Roman Catholics？ And whether； in common prudence
or policy； any priest should be tolerated who refuseth to take
it？
257 Whether there is any such thing as a body of inhabitants； in
any Roman Catholic country under the sun； that profess an
absolute submission to the pope's orders in matters of an
indifferent nature； or that in such points do not think it their
duty to obey the civil government？
258 Whether since the peace of Utrecht； mass was not celebrated
and the sacraments administered in divers dioceses of Sicily；
notwithstanding the Pope's interdict？
259 Whether a sum which would go but a little way towards
erecting hospitals for maintaining and educating the children of
the native Irish might not go far in binding them out apprentices
to Protestant masters； for husbandry； useful trades； and the
service of families？
260 Whether there be any instance of a people's being converted
in a Christian sense； otherwise than by preaching to them and
instructing them in their own language？
261 Whether catechists in the Irish tongue may not easily be
procured and subsisted？ And whether this would not be the most
practicable means for converting the natives？
262 Whether it be not of great advantage to the Church of Rome；
that she hath clergy suited to all ranks of men； in gradual
subordination from cardinals down to mendicants？
263 Whether her numerous poor clergy are not very useful in
missions； and of much influence with the people？
264 Whether； in defect of able missionaries； persons conversant
in low life； and speaking the Irish tongue； if well instructed in
the first principles of religion； and in the popish controversy；
though for the rest on a level with the parish clerks； or the
school…masters of charity…schools； may not be fit to mix with and
bring over our poor illiterate natives to the Established Church？
Whether it is not to be wished that some parts of our liturgy and
homilies were publicly read in the Irish language？ And whether；
in these views； it may not be right to breed up some of the
better sort of children in the charity…schools； and qualify them
for missionaries； catechists； and readers？
265 Whether a squire possessed of land to the value of a thousand
pounds per annum； or a merchant worth twenty thousand pounds in
cash； would have most power to do good or evil upon any
emergency？ And whether the suffering Roman Catholics to purchase
forfeited lands would not be good policy； as tending to unite
their interest with that of the government？
266 Whether the sea…ports of Galway； Limerick； Cork； and
Waterford are not to be looked on as keys of this kingdom？ And
whether the merchants are not possessed of these keys； and who
are the most numerous merchants in those cities？
267 Whether a merchant cannot more speedily raise a sum； more
easily conceal or transfer his effects； and engage in any
desperate design with more safety； than a landed man； whose
estate is a pledge for his behaviour？
268 Whether a wealthy merchant bears not great sway among the
populace of a trading city？ And whether power be not ultimately
lodged in the people？
269 Whether； as others have supposed an Atlantis or Utopia； we
also may not suppose an Hyperborean island inhabited by
reasonable creatures？
270 Whether an indifferent person； who looks into all hands； may
not be a better judge of the game than a party who sees only his
own？
271 Whether there be any country in Christendom more capable of
improvement than Ireland？
272 Whether we are not as far before other nations with respect
to natural advantages； as we are behind them with respect to arts
and industry？
273 Whether we do not live in a most fertile soil and temperate
climate； and yet whether our people in general do not feel great
want and misery？
274 Whether my countrymen are not readier at finding excuses than
remedies？
275 Whether the wealth and prosperity of our country do not hang
by a hair； the probity of one banker； the caution of another； and
the lives of all？
276 Whether we have not been sufficiently admonished of this by
some late events？
277 Whether a national bank would not at once secure our
properties； put an end to usury； facilitate commerce； supply the
want of coin； and produce ready payments in all parts of the
kingdom？
278 Whether the use or nature of money； which all men so eagerly
pursue； be yet sufficiently understood or considered by all？
279 What doth Aristotle mean by saying
〃Coin seems to be something trivial。〃 … De repub。； ix。 9？
280 Whether mankind are not governed by Citation rather than by
reason？
281 Whether there be not a measure or limit； within which gold
and silver are useful； and beyond which they may be hurtful？
282 Whether that measure be not the circulating of industry？
283 Whether a discovery of the richest gold mine that ever was；
in the heart of this kingdom； would be a real advantagetous？
284 Whether it would not tempt foreigners to prey upon us？
285 Whether it would not render us a lazy； proud； and dastardly
people？
286 Whether every man who had money enough would not be a
gentleman？ And whether a nation of gentlemen would not be a
wretched nation？
287 Whether all things would not bear a high price？ And whether
men would not increase their fortunes without being the better
for it？
288 Whether the same evils would be apprehended from paper…money
under an honest and thrifty regulation？
289 Whether； therefore； a national bank would not be more
beneficial than even a mine of gold？
290 Whether without private banks what little business and
industry there is would not stagnate？ But whether it be not a
mighty privilege for a private person to be able to create a
hundred pounds with a dash of his pen？
291 Whether the wise state of Venice was not the first that
conceived the advantage of a national bank？
292 Whether the great exactness and integrity with which this
bank is managed be not the chief support of that republic？
293 Whether the bank of Amsterdam was not begun about one hundred
and thirty years ago； and whether at this day its stock be not
conceived to amount to three thousand tons of gold； or thirty
millions sterling？
294 Whether all payments of contracts for goods in gross； and
letters of exchange； must not be made by transfers in the
bank…books； provided the sum exceed three hundred florins？
295 Whether it be not owing to this bank that the city of
Amsterdam； without the least confusion； hazard； or trouble；
maintains and every day promotes so general and quick a
circulation of industry？
296 Whether it be not the greatest help and spur to commerce that
property can be so readily conveyed and so well secured by a
compte en banc； that is； by only writing one man's name for
another's in the bank…book？
297 Whether； at the beginning of the last century； those who had
lent money to the public during the war with Spain were not
satisfied by the sole expedient of placing their names in a
compte en banc； with liberty to transfer their claims？
298 Whether the example of those easy transfers in the compte en
banc； thus casually erected； did not tempt other men to become
creditors to the public； in order to profit by the same secure
and expeditious method of keeping and transferring their wealth？
299 Whether this compte en banc hath not proved better than a
mine of gold to Amsterdam？
300 Whether that city may not be said to owe her greatness to the
unpromising accident of her having been in debt more than she was
able to Pay？
301 Whether it be known that any State from such small
beginnings； in so short a time； ever grew to so great wealth and
power as the province of Holland hath done； and whether the bank
of Amsterdam hath not been the real cause of such extraordinary
growth？
302 Whether the success of those public banks in Venice；
Amsterdam and Hamburg would not naturally produce in other States
an inclination to the same methods？
303 Whether it be possible for a national bank to subsist and
maintain its credit under a French government？
304 Whether our natural appetites； as well as powers； are not
limited to their respective ends and uses？ But whether artificial
appetites may not be infinite？
305 Whether the simple getting of money； or passing it from hand
to hand without industry； be an object worthy of a wise
government？
306 Whether； if money be considered as an end； the appetite
thereof be not infinite？ But whether the ends of money itself be
not bounded？
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