The Querist | Page 9

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. Qu. Whether it be true that men of nice palates have been imposed on, by elder wine for French claret, and by mead for palm sack?
158. Qu. Do not Englishmen abroad purchase beer and cider at ten times the price of wine?
159. Qu. How many gentlemen are there in England of a thousand pounds per annum who never drink wine in their own houses? Whether the same may be said of any in Ireland who have even? one hundred pounds per annum.
160. Qu. What reasons have our neighbours in England for discouraging French wines which may not hold with respect to us also?
161. Qu. How much of the necessary sustenance of our people is yearly exported for brandy?
162. Qu. Whether, if people must poison themselves, they had not better do it with their own growth?
163. Qu. If we imported neither claret from France, nor fir from Norway, what the nation would save by it?
164. Qu. When the root yieldeth insufficient nourishment, whether men do not top the tree to make the lower branches thrive?
165. Qu. Whether, if our ladies drank sage or balm tea out of Irish ware, it would be an insupportable national calamity?
166. Qu. Whether it be really true that such wine is best as most encourages drinking, i.e., that must be given in the largest dose to produce its effect? And whether this holds with