253. Qu. Whether any people upon earth shew
a more early zeal for the service of their country,
greater eagerness to bear a part in the legislature,
or a more general parturiency with respect to politics
and public counsels?
254. Qu. Whether, nevertheless, a light
and ludicrous vein be not the reigning humour; but
whether there was ever greater cause to be serious?
ERRATUM
Qu. 168, for Indulg’d, read ill judg’d.
Query 1.
Whether the fable of Hercules and the carter ever
suited any nation like this nation of Ireland?
2. Qu. 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?
3. Qu. 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?
4. Qu. 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?
5. Qu. 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?
6. Qu. 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?
7. Qu. Whether there be not two ways of
growing rich, sparing and getting? But whether
the lazy spendthrift must not be doubly poor?
8. Qu. Whether money circulating be not
the life of industry; and whether the want thereof
doth not render a State gouty and inactive?
9. Qu. 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?
10. Qu. 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?
11. Qu. Whether the wealth of the richest
nations in Christendom doth not consist in paper vastly
more than in gold and silver?
12. Qu. 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 L20,000 in specie, without being able to raise
half the sum in all that time? (See Clarendon’s
History, BK. XII)
