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a manufacture of so great value by any other art as by those of
sculpture and painting？
71 Whether pictures and statues are not in fact so much treasure？
And whether Rome and Florence would not be poor towns without
them？
72 Whether they do not bring ready money as well as jewels？
Whether in Italy debts are not paid； and children portioned with
them； as with gold and silver？
73 Whether it would not be more prudent； to strike out and exert
ourselves in permitted branches of trade； than to fold our hands；
and repine that we are not allowed the woollen？
74 Whether it be true that two millions are yearly expended by
England in foreign lace and linen？
75 Whether immense sums are not drawn yearly into the Northern
countries； for supplying the British navy with hempen
manufactures？
76 Whether there be anything more profitable than。 hemp？ And
whether there should not be great premiums for encouraging our
hempen trade？ What advantages may not Great Britain make of a
country where land and labour are so cheap？
77 Whether Ireland alone might not raise hemp sufficient for the
British navy？ And whether it would not be vain to expect this
from the British Colonies in America； where hands are so scarce；
and labour so excessively dear？
78 Whether； if our own people want will or capacity for such an
attempt； it might not be worth while for some undertaking spirits
in England to make settlements； and raise hemp in the counties of
Clare and Limerick； than which； perhaps； there is not fitter land
in the world for that purpose？ And whether both nations would not
find their advantage therein？
79 Whether if all the idle hands in this kingdom were employed on
hemp and flax； we might not find sufficient vent for these
manufactures？
80 How far it may be in our own power to better our affairs；
without interfering with our neighbours？
81 Whether the prohibition of our woollen trade ought not
naturally to put us on other methods which give no jealousy？
82 Whether paper be not a valuable article of commerce？ And
whether it be not true that one single bookseller in London
yearly expended above four thousand pounds in that foreign
commodity？
83 How it comes to pass that the Venetians and Genoese； who wear
so much less linen； and so much worse than we do； should yet make
very good paper； and in great quantity； while we make very
little？
84 How long it will be before my countrymen find out that it is
worth while to spend a penny in order to get a groat？
85 If all the land were tilled that is fit for tillage； and all
that sowed with hemp and flax that is fit for raising them；
whether we should have much sheep…walk beyond what was sufficient
to supply the necessities of the kingdom？
86 Whether other countries have not flourished without the
woollen trade？
87 Whether it be not a sure sign or effect of a country's
inhabitants？ And； thriving； to see it well cultivated and full
of； if so； whether a great quantity of sheep…walk be not ruinous
to a country； rendering it waste and thinly inhabited？
88 Whether the employing so much of our land under sheep be not
in fact an Irish blunder？
89 Whether our hankering after our woollen trade be not the true
and only reason which hath created a jealousy in England towards
Ireland？ And whether anything can hurt us more than such
jealousy？
90 Whether it be not the true interest of both nations to become
one people？ And whether either be sufficiently apprised of this？
91 Whether the upper part of this people are not truly English；
by blood； language； religion； manners； inclination； and interest？
92 Whether we are not as much Englishmen as the children of old
Romans； born in Britain； were still Romans？
93 Whether it be not our true interest not to interfere with
them； and； in every other case； whether it be not their true
interest to befriend us？
94 Whether a mint in Ireland might not be of great convenience to
the kingdom； and whether it could be attended with any possible
inconvenience to Great Britain？ And whether there were not mints
in Naples and Sicily； when those kingdoms were provinces to Spain
or the house of Austria？
95 Whether anything can be more ridiculous than for the north of
Ireland to be jealous of a linen manufacturer in the south？
96 Whether the county of Tipperary be not much better land than
the county of Armagh； and yet whether the latter is not much
better improved and inhabited than the former？
97 Whether every landlord in the kingdom doth not know the cause
of this？ And yet how few are the better for such their knowledge？
98 Whether large farms under few hands； or small ones under many；
are likely to be made most of？ And whether flax and tillage do
not naturally multiply hands； and divide land into small
holdings； and well…improved？
99 Whether； as our exports are lessened； we ought not to lessen
our imports？ And whether these will not be lessened as our
demands； and these as our wants； and these as our customs or
fashions？ Of how great consequence therefore are fashions to the
public？
100 Whether it would not be more reasonable to mend our state
than to complain of it； and how far this may be in our own power？
101 What the nation gains by those who live in Ireland upon the
produce of foreign Countries？
102 How far the vanity of our ladies in dressing； and of our
gentlemen in drinking； contributes to the general misery of the
people？
103 Whether nations； as wise and opulent as ours； have not made
sumptuary laws； and what hinders us from doing the same？
104 Whether those who drink foreign liquors； and deck themselves
and their families with foreign ornaments； are not so far forth
to be reckoned absentees？
105 Whether； as our trade is limited； we ought not to limit our
expenses； and whether this be not the natural and obvious remedy？
106 Whether the dirt； and famine； and nakedness of the bulk of
our people might not be remedied； even although we had no foreign
trade？ And whether this should not be our first care； and
whether； if this were once provided for； the conveniences of the
rich would not soon follow？
107 Whether comfortable living doth not produce wants； and wants
industry； and industry wealth？
108 Whether there is not a great difference between Holland and
Ireland？ And whether foreign commerce； without which the one
could not subsist； be so necessary for the other？
109 Might we not put a hand to the plough； or the spade； although
we had no foreign commerce？
110 Whether the exigencies of nature are not to be answered by
industry on our own soil？ And how far the conveniences and
comforts of life may be procured by a domestic commerce between
the several parts of this kingdom？
111 Whether the women may not sew； spin； weave； embroider
sufficiently for the embellishment of their persons； and even
enough to raise envy in each other； without being beholden to
foreign countries？
112 Suppose the bulk of our inhabitants had shoes to their feet；
clothes to their backs； and beef in their bellies； might not such
a state be eligible for the public； even though the squires were
condemned to drink ale and cide