The Querist | Page 9

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?
130. Qu. Whether Ireland be not as well qualified for such a state as
any nation under the sun?
131. Qu. 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?
132. Qu. 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?
133. Qu. 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?
134. Qu. 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?
135. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, it be a crime to inquire how far we
may do without foreign trade, and what would follow on such a
supposition?
136. Qu. Whether the number and welfare of the subjects be not the

true strength of the crown?
137. Qu. 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?
138. Qu. Whether there be upon earth any Christian or civilized people
so beggarly, wretched, and destitute as the common Irish?
139. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, there is any other people whose wants
may be more easily supplied from home?
140. Qu. 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?
141. Qu. 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?
142. Qu. 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?
143. Qu. Whether it be not vain to think of persuading other people to
see their interest, while we continue blind to our own?
144. Qu. Whether there be any other nation possess'd of so much good
land, and so many able hands to work it, which yet is beholden for
bread to foreign countries?
145. Qu. Whether it be true that we import corn to the value of two
hundred thousand pounds in some years?
146. Qu. 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?
147. Qu. Whether a woman of fashion ought not to be declared a public

enemy?
148. Qu. 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?
149. Qu. Whether a foreigner could imagine that one half of the people
were starving, in a country which sent out such plenty of provisions?
150. Qu. 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?
151. Qu. Whether nine-tenths of our foreign trade be not carried on
singly to support the article of vanity?
152. Qu. Whether it can be hoped that private persons will not indulge
this folly, unless restrained by the public?
153. Qu. How vanity is maintained in other countries? Whether in
Hungary, for instance, a proud nobility are not subsisted with small
imports from abroad?
154. Qu. Whether there be a prouder people upon earth than the noble
Venetians, although they all wear plain black clothes?
155. Qu. Whether a people are to be pitied that will not sacrifice their
little particular vanities to the public. good? And yet, whether each part
would not except their own foible from this public sacrifice, the squire
his bottle, the lady her lace?
156. Qu. Whether claret be not often drank rather for vanity than for
health, or pleasure?

157.