carried on her woollen manufacture to so great perfection？
522 Whether it would not on many accounts be right if we observed
the same course with respect to our linen manufacture； and that
diapers were made in one town or district； damasks in another；
sheeting in a third； fine wearing linen in a fourth； coarse in a
fifth； in another cambrics； in another thread and stockings； in
others stamped linen； or striped linen； or tickings； or dyed
linen； of which last kinds there is so great a consumption among
the seafaring men of all nations？
523 Whether it may not be worth while to inform ourselves of the
different sorts of linen which are in request among different
people？
524 Whether we do not yearly consume of French wines about a
thousand tuns more than either Sweden or Denmark； and yet whether
those nations pay ready money as we do？
525 Whether it be not a custom for some thousands of Frenchmen to
go about the beginning of March into Spain； and having tilled the
lands and gathered the harvest of Spain； to return home with
money in their pockets about the end of November？
526 Whether of late years our Irish labourers do not carry on the
same business in England to the great discontent of many there？
But whether we have not much more reason than the people of
England to be displeased at this commerce？
527 Whether； notwithstanding the cash supposed to be brought into
it； any nation is； in truth； a gainer by such traffic？
528 Whether the industry of our people employed in foreign lands；
while our own are left uncultivated； be not a great loss to the
country？
529 Whether it would not be much better for us； if； instead of
sending our men abroad； we could draw men from the neighbouring
countries to cultivate our own？
530 Whether； nevertheless； we are not apt to think the money
imported by our labourers to be so much clear gains to this
country； but whether a little reflexion and a little political
arithmetic may not shew us our mistake？
531 Whether our prejudices about gold and silver are not very apt
to infect or misguide our judgments and reasonings about the
public weal？
532 Whether it be not a good rule whereby to judge of the trade
of any city； and its usefulness； to observe whether there is a
circulation through the extremities； and whether the people round
about are busy and warm？
533 Whether we had not； some years since； a manufacture of hats
at Athlone； and of earthenware at Arklow； and what became of
those manufactures？
534 Why we do not make tiles of our own； for flooring and
roofing； rather than bring them from Holland？
535 What manufactures are there in France and Venice of
gilt…leather； how cheap and how splendid a furniture？
536 Whether we may not； for the same use； manufacture divers
things at home of more beauty and variety than wainscot； which is
imported at such expense from Norway？
537 Whether the use and the fashion will not soon make a
manufacture？
538 Whether； if our gentry used to drink mead and cider； we
should not soon have those liquors in the utmost perfection and
plenty？
539 Whether it be not wonderful that with such pastures； and so
many black cattle； we do not find ourselves in cheese？
540 Whether great profits may not be made by fisheries； but
whether those of our Irish who live by that business do not
contrive to be drunk and unemployed one half of the year？
541 Whether it be not folly to think an inward commerce cannot
enrich a State； because it doth not increase its quantity of gold
and silver？ And whether it is possible a country should？ not
thrive； while wants are supplied； and business goes on？
542 Whether plenty of all the necessaries and comforts of life be
not real wealth？
543 Whether Lyons； by the advantage of her midland situation and
the rivers Rhone and Saone； be not a great magazine or mart for
inward commerce？ And whether she doth not maintain a constant
trade with most parts of France； with Provence for oils and dried
fruits； for wines and cloth with Languedoc； for stuffs with
Champagne； for linen with Picardy； Normandy； and Brittany； for
corn with Burgundy？
544 Whether she doth not receive and utter all those commodities；
and raise a profit from the distribution thereof； as well as of
her own manufactures； throughout the kingdom of France？
545 Whether the charge of making good roads and navigable rivers
across the country would not be really repaid by an inward
commerce？
546 Whether； as our trade and manufactures increased； magazines
should not be established in proper places； fitted by their
situation； near great roads and navigable rivers； lakes； or
canals； for the ready reception and distribution of all sorts of
commodities from and to the several parts of the kingdom； and
whether the town of Athlone； for instance； may not be fitly
situated for such a magazine； or centre of domestic commerce？
547 Whether an inward trade would not cause industry to flourish；
and multiply the circulation of our coin； and whether this may
not do as well as multiplying the coin itself？
548 Whether the benefits of a domestic commerce are sufficiently
understood and attended to； and whether the cause thereof be not
the prejudiced and narrow way of thinking about gold and silver？
549 Whether there be any other more easy and unenvied method of
increasing the wealth of a people？
550 Whether we of this island are not from our peculiar
circumstances determined to this very commerce above any other；
from the number of necessaries and good things that we possess
within ourselves； from the extent and variety of our soil； from
the navigable rivers and good roads which we have or may have； at
a less expense than any people in Europe； from our great plenty
of materials for manufactures； and particularly from the
restraints we lie under with regard to our foreign trade？
551 Whether annual inventories should not be published of the
fairs throughout the kingdom； in order to judge of the growth of
its commerce？
552 Whether there be not every year more cash circulated at the
card tables of Dublin than at all the fairs of Ireland？
553 Whether the wealth of a country will not bear proportion to
the skill and industry of its inhabitants？
554 Whether foreign imports that tend to promote industry should
not be encouraged； and such as have a tendency to promote luxury
should not be discouraged？
555 Whether the annual balance of trade between Italy and Lyons
be not about four millions in favour of the former； and yet；
whether Lyons be not a gainer by this trade？
556 Whether the general rule； of determining the profit of a
commerce by its balance； doth not； like other general rules；
admit of exceptions？
557 Whether it would not be a monstrous folly to import nothing
but gold and silver； supposing we might do it； from every foreign
part to which we trade？ And yet； whether some men may not think
this foolish circumstance a very happy one？
558 But whether we do not all see the ridicule of the Mogul's
subjects； who take from us nothing but our silver； and bury it
under ground； in order to make sure thereof against the
resurrection？
559 Whether he must not be a wrongheaded patriot or politician；
whose ultimate view was drawing money into a country； and keeping
it there？
560 Whether it be not evident that not gold but industry causeth
a country to flourish？
561 Whether it would not be a silly project in any nation to hope
to grow rich by prohibiting the exportation of gold and silver？
562 Whether there can be a greater mistake in politics than to
measure the wealth of the nation by its gold and silver？
563 Whether gold and silver be not a drug； where they do not
promote industry？ Whether they be not even the bane and undoing
of an idle people？
564 Whether gold will not cause either industry or vice to
flourish？ And whether a country； where it flowed in without
labour； must not be wretched and dissolute like an island
inhabited by buccaneers？
565 Whether arts and virtue are not likely to thrive； where money
is made a means to industry？ But whether money without this would
be a blessing to any people？
566 Whether keeping cash at home； or sending it abroad； just as
it most serves to promote industry； be not the real interest of
every nation？
567 Whether commodities of all kinds do not naturally flow where
there is the greatest demand？ Whether the greatest demand for a
thing be not where it is of most use？ Whether money； like other
things； hath not its proper use？ Whether this use be not to
circulate？ Whether therefore there must not of course be money
where there is a circulation of industry？
568 Whether it is not a great point to know what we would be at？
And whether whole States； as well as private persons； do not
often fluctuate for want of this knowledge？
569 Whether gold may not be compared to Sejanus's horse； if we
consider its passage through the world； and the fate of those
nations which have been successively possessed thereof？
570 Whether means are not so far useful as they answer the end？
And whether； in different circumstances； the same ends are not
obtained by different means？
571 If we are a poor nation； abounding with very poor people；
will it not follow that a far greater proportion of our stock
should be in the smallest and lowest species than would suit with
England？
572 Whether； therefore； it would not be highly expedient if our
money were coined of peculiar values； best fitted to the
circumstances and uses of our own country； and whether any other
people could take umbrage at our consulting our own convenience；
in an affair entirely domestic； and that lies within ourselves？
573 Whether every man doth not know； and hath not long known；
that the want of a mint causeth many other wants in this kingdom？
574 What harm did England sustain about three centuries ago； when
silver was coined in this kingdom？
575 What harm was it to Spain that her provinces of Naples and
Sicily had all along mints of their own？
576 Whether it may not be presumed that our not having a
privilege which every other kingdom in the world enjoys； be not
owing to our want of diligence