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interest； as well as that of his country？
412 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？
413 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？
414 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？
415 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？
416 Whether money could ever be wanting to the demands of
industry； if we had a national bank？
417 Whether the fable of Hercules and the carter ever suited any
nation like this nation of Ireland？
418 Whether it be not a new spectacle under the sun； to behold；
in such a climate and such a soil； and under such a gentle
government； so many roads untrodden； fields untilled； houses
desolate； and hands unemployed？
419 Whether there is any country in Christendom； either kingdom
or republic； depending or independent； free or enslaved； which
may not afford us a useful lesson？
420 Whether the frugal Swisses have any other commodities but
their butter and cheese and a few cattle； for exportation；
whether； nevertheless； the single canton of Berne hath not in her
public treasury two millions sterling？
421 Whether that small town of Berne； with its scanty barren
territory； in a mountainous corner； without sea…ports； without
manufactures； without mines； be not rich by mere dint of
frugality？
422 Whether the Swisses in general have not sumptuary laws；
prohibiting the use of gold； jewels； silver； silk； and lace in
their apparel； and indulging the women only to wear silk on
festivals； weddings； and public solemnities？
423 Whether there be not two ways of growing rich； sparing and
getting？ But whether the lazy spendthrift must not be doubly
poor？
424 Whether money circulating be not the life of industry； and
whether the want thereof doth not render a State gouty and
inactive？
425 But whether； if we had a national bank； and our present cash
（small as it is） were put into the most convenient shape； men
should hear any public complaints for want of money？
426 Whether all circulation be not alike a circulation of credit；
whatsoever medium （metal or paper） is employed； and whether gold
be any more than credit for so much power？
427 Whether the wealth of the richest nations in Christendom doth
not consist in paper vastly more than in gold and silver？
428 Whether Lord Clarendon doth not aver of his own knowledge；
that the Prince of Orange； with the best credit； and the
assistance of the richest men in Amsterdam； was above ten days
endeavouring to raise ？0；000 in specie； without being able to
raise half the sum in all that time？ （See Clarendon's History；
BK。 XII）
429 Supposing there had been hitherto no such thing as a bank；
and the question were now first proposed； whether it would be
safer to circulate unlimited bills in a private credit； or bills
to a limited value on the public credit of the community； what
would men think？
430 Whether the maxim； 'What is everybody's business is
nobody's；' prevails in any country under the sun more than in
Ireland？
431 Whether the united stock of a nation be not the best
security？ And whether anything but the ruin of the State can
produce a national bankruptcy？
432 Whether the total sum of the public treasure； power； and
wisdom； all co…operating； be not most likely to establish a bank
of credit； sufficient to answer the ends； relieve the wants； and
satisfy the scruples of all people？
433 Whether London is not to be considered as the metropolis of
Ireland？ And whether our wealth （such as it is） doth not
circulate through London and throughout all England； as freely as
that of any part of his Majesty's dominions？
434 Whether therefore it be not evidently the interest of the
people of England to encourage rather than to oppose a national
bank in this kingdom； as well as every other means for advancing
our wealth which shall not impair their own？
435 Whether it is not our interest to be useful to them rather
than rival them； and whether in that case we may not be sure of
their good offices？
436 Whether we can propose to thrive so long as we entertain a
wrongheaded distrust of England？
437 Whether； as a national bank would increase our industry； and
that our wealth； England may not be a proportionable gainer； and
whether we should not consider the gains of our mother…country as
some accession to our own？
438 Whether there be any difficulty in comprehending that the
whole wealth of the nation is in truth the stock of a national
bank？ And whether any more than the right comprehension of this
be necessary to make all men easy with regard to its credit？
439 Whether the prejudices about gold and silver are not strong；
but whether they are not still prejudices？
440 Whether paper doth not by its stamp and signature acquire a
local value； and become as precious and as scarce as gold？ And
whether it be not much fitter to circulate large sums； and
therefore preferable to gold？
441 Whether it doth not much import to have a right conception of
money？ And whether its true and just idea be not that of a
ticket； entitling to power； and fitted to record and transfer
such power？
442 Though the bank of Amsterdam doth very rarely； if at all； pay
out money； yet whether every man possessed of specie be not ready
to convert it into paper； and act as cashier to the bank？ And
whether； from the same motive； every monied man throughout this
kingdom would not be cashier to our national bank？
443 Whether we may not obtain that as friends which it is in vain
to hope for as rivals？
444 Whether in every instance by which we prejudice England； we
do not in a greater degree prejudice ourselves？
445 Whether in the rude original of society the first step was
not the exchanging of commodities； the next a substituting of
metals by weight as the common medium of circulation； after this
the making use of coin； lastly； a further refinement by the use
of paper with proper marks and signatures？ And whether this； as
it is the last； so it be not the greatest improvement？
446 Whether we are not in fact the only people who may be said to
starve in the midst of plenty？
447 Whether there can be a worse sign than that people should
quit their country for a livelihood？ Though men often leave their
country for health； or pleasure； or riches； yet to leave it
merely for a livelihood； whether this be not exceeding bad； and
sheweth some peculiar misman