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certain that there is a greater circulation of industry and
extent of trade； more people； ships； houses； and commodities of
all sorts； more power by sea and land？
242 Whether money； lying dead in the bank of Amsterdam； would not
be as useless as in the mine？
243 Whether our visible security in land could be doubted？ And
whether there be anything like this in the bank of Amsterdam？
244 Whether it be just to apprehend danger from trusting a
national bank with power to extend its credit； to circulate notes
which it shall be felony to counterfeit； to receive goods on
loans； to purchase lands； to sell also or alienate them； and to
deal in bills of exchange； when these powers are no other than
have been trusted for many years with the bank of England；
although in truth but a private bank？
245 Whether the objection from monopolies and an overgrowth of
power； which are made against private banks； can possibly hold
against a national one？
246 Whether the evil effects which of late years have attended
paper…money and credit in Europe did not spring from
subscriptions； shares； dividends； and stock…jobbing？
247 Whether the great evils attending paper…money in the British
Plantations of America have not sprung from the overrating their
lands； and issuing paper without discretion； and from the
legislators breaking their own rules in favour of themselves；
thus sacrificing the public to their private benefit？ And whether
a little sense and honesty might not easily prevent all such
inconveniences？
248 Whether the subject of free…thinking in religion be not
exhausted？ And whether it be not high time for our freethinkers
to turn their thoughts to the improvement of their country？
249 Whether it must not be ruinous for a nation to sit down to
game； be it with silver or with paper？
250 Whether； therefore； the circulating paper； in the late
ruinous schemes of France and England； was the true evil； and not
rather the circulating thereof without industry？ And whether the
bank of Amsterdam； where industry had been for so many years
subsisted and circulated by transfers on paper； doth not clearly
decide this point？
251 Whether there are not to be seen in America fair； towns；
wherein the people are well lodged； fed； and clothed； without a
beggar in their streets； although there be not one grain of gold
or silver current among them？
252 Whether these people do not exercise all arts and trades；
build ships and navigate them to all parts of the world； purchase
lands； till and reap the fruits of them； buy and sell； educate
and provide for their children？ Whether they do not even indulge
themselves in foreign vanities？
253 Whether； whatever inconveniences those people may have
incurred from not observing either rules or bounds in their paper
money； yet it be not certain that they are in a more flourishing
condition； have larger and better built towns； more plenty； more
industry； more arts and civility； and a more extensive commerce；
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