the land wore a black coat； said his prayers； and was obliged to
reside？
343 Whether there be anything perfect under the sun？ And whether
it be not with the world as with a particular State； and with a
State or body politic as with the human body； which lives and
moves under various indispositions； perfect health being seldom
or never to be found？
344 Whether； nevertheless； men should not in all things aim at
perfection？ And； therefore； whether any wise and good man would
be against applying remedies？ But whether it is not natural to
wish for a benevolent physician？
345 Whether the public happiness be not proposed by the
legislature； and whether such happiness doth not contain that of
the individuals？
346 Whether； therefore； a legislator should be content with a
vulgar share of knowledge？ Whether he should not be a person of
reflexion and thought； who hath made it his study to understand
the true nature and interest of mankind； how to guide men's
humours and passions； how to incite their active powers； how to
make their several talents co…operate to the mutual benefit of
each other； and the general good of the whole？
347 Whether it doth not follow that above all things a
gentleman's care should be to keep his own faculties sound and
entire？
348 Whether the natural phlegm of this island needs any
additional stupefier？
349 Whether all spirituous liquors are not in truth opiates？
350 Whether our men of business are not generally very grave by
fifty？
351 Whether all men have not faculties of mind or body which may
be employed for the public benefit？
352 Whether the main point be not to multiply and employ our
people？
353 Whether hearty food and warm clothing would not enable and
encourage the lower sort to labour？
354 Whether； in such a soil as ours； if there was industry； there
could be want？
355 Whether the way to make men industrious be not to let them
taste the fruits of their industry？ And whether the labouring ox
should be muzzled？
356 Whether our landlords are to be told that industry and
numbers would raise the value of their lands； or that one acre
about the Tholsel is worth ten thousand acres in Connaught？
357 Whether our old native Irish are not the most indolent and
supine people in Christendom？
358 Whether they are yet civilized； and whether their habitations
and furniture are not more sordid than those of the savage
Americans？
359 Whether it be not a sad circumstance to live among lazy
beggars？ And whether； on the other hand； it would not be
delightful to live in a country swarming； like China； with busy
people？
360 Whether we should not cast about； by all manner of means； to
excite industry； and to remove whatever hinders it？ And whether
every one should not lend a helping hand？
361 Whether vanity itself should not be engaged in this good
work？ And whether it is not to be wished that the finding of
employment for themselves and others were a fashionable
distinction among the ladies？
362 Whether idleness be the mother or the daughter of spleen？
363 Whether it may not be worth while to publish the conversation
of Ischomachus and his wife in Xenophon； for the use of our
ladies？
364 Whether it is true that there have been； upon a time； one
hundred millions of people employed in China； without the woollen
trade； or any foreign commerce？
365 Whether the natural inducements to sloth are not greater in
the Mogul's country than in Ireland； and yet whether； in that
suffocating and dispiriting climate； the Banyans are not all；
men； women； and children； constantly employed？
366 Whether it be not true that the great Mogul's subjects might
undersell us even in our own markets； and clothe our people with
their stuffs and calicoes； if they were imported duty free？
367 Whether there can be a greater reproach on the leading men
and the patriots of a country； than that the people should want
employment？ And whether methods may not be found to employ even
the lame and the blind； the dumb； the deaf； and the maimed； in
some or other branch of our manufactures？
368 Whether much may not be expected from a biennial consultation
of so many wise men about the public good？
369 Whether a tax upon dirt would not be one way of encouraging
industry？
370 Whether it would be a great hardship if every parish were
obliged to find work for their poor？
371 Whether children especially should not be inured to labour
betimes？
372 Whether there should not be erected； in each province； an
hospital for orphans and foundlings； at the expense of old
bachelors？
373 Whether it be true that in the Dutch workhouses things are so
managed that a child four years old may earn its own livelihood？
374 What a folly is it to build fine houses； or establish
lucrative posts and large incomes； under the notion of providing
for the poor？
375 Whether the poor； grown up and in health； need any other
provision but their own industry； under public inspection？
376 Whether the poor…tax in England hath lessened or increased
the number of the poor？
377 Whether workhouses should not be made at the least expense；
with clay floors； and walls of rough stone； without plastering；
ceiling； or glazing？
378 Whether it be an impossible attempt to set our people at
work； or whether industry be a habit which； like other habits；
may by time and skill be introduced among any people？
379 Whether all manner of means should not be employed to possess
the nation in general with an aversion and contempt for idleness
and all idle folk？
380 Whether it would be a hardship on people destitute of all
things； if the public furnished them with necessaries which they
should be obliged to earn by their labour？
381 Whether other nations have not found great benefit from the
use of slaves in repairing high roads； making rivers navigable；
draining bogs； erecting public buildings； bridges； and
manufactures？
382 Whether temporary servitude would not be the best cure for
idleness and beggary？
383 Whether the public hath not a right to employ those who
cannot or who will not find employment for themselves？
384 Whether all sturdy beggars should not be seized and made
slaves to the public for a certain term of years？
385 Whether he who is chained in a jail or dungeon hath not； for
the time； lost his liberty？ And if so； whether temporary slavery
be not already admitted among us？
386 Whether a state of servitude； wherein he should be well
worked； fed； and clothed； would not be a preferment to such a
fellow？
387 Whether criminals in the freest country may not forfeit their
liberty； and repair the damage they have done the public by hard
labour？
388 What the word 'servant' signifies in the New Testament？
389 Whether the view of criminals chained in pairs and kept at
hard labour would not be very edifying to the multitude？
390 Whether the want of such an institution be not plainly seen
in England； where the disbelief of a future state hardeneth
rogues against the fear of death； and where； through the great
growth of robbers and housebreakers； it becomes every day more
necessary？
391 Whether it be not easier to prevent than to remedy； and
whether we should not profit by the example of others？
392 Whether felons are not often spared； and therefore
encouraged； by the compassion of those who should prosecute。
them？
393 Whether many that would not take away the life of a thief may
not nevertheless be willing to bring him to a more adequate
punishment？
394 Whether the most indolent would be fond of idleness； if they
regarded it as the sure road to hard labour？
395 Whether the industry of the lower part of our people doth not
much depend on the expense of the upper？
396 What would be the consequence if our gentry affected to
distinguish themselves by fine houses rather than fine clothes？
397 Whether any people in Europe are so meanly provided with
houses and furniture； in proportion to their incomes； as the men
of estates in Ireland？
398 Whether building would not peculiarly encourage all other
arts in this kingdom？
399 Whether smiths； masons； bricklayers； plasterers； carpenters；
joiners； tilers； plumbers； and glaziers would not all find
employment if the humour of building prevailed？
400 Whether the ornaments and furniture of a good house do not
employ a number of all sorts of artificers； in iron； wood；
marble； brass； pewter； copper； wool； flax； and divers other
materials？
401 Whether in buildings and gardens a great number of
day…labourers do not find employment？
402 Whether by these means much of that sustenance and wealth of
this nation which now goes to foreigners would not be kept at
home； and nourish and circulate among our own people？
403 Whether； as industry produced good living； the number of
hands and mouths would not be increased； and in proportion
thereunto； whether there would not be every day more occasion for
agriculture？ And whether this article alone would not employ a
world of people？
404 Whether such management would not equally provide for the
magnificence of the rich； and the necessities of the poor？
405 Whether an expense in building and improvements doth not
remain at home； pass to the heir； and adorn the public？ And
whether any of those things can be said of claret？
406 Whether fools do not make fashions； and wise men follow them？
407 Whether； for one who hurts his fortune by improvements；
twenty do not ruin themselves by foreign luxury？
408 Whether in proportion as Ireland was improved and beautified
by fine seats； the number of absentees would not decrease？
409 Whether he who employs men in buildings and manufactures doth
not put life in the country； and whether the neighbourhood round
him be not observed to thrive？
410 Whether money circulated on the landlord's own lands； and
among his own tenants； doth not return into his own pocket？
411 Whether every squire that made his domain swarm with busy
hands； like a bee…hive or ant…hill； would not serve his own
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