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The Querist

by

George Berkley

1735

The Querist Containing Several Queries Proposed to the Consideration of the Public

Part I

Query 1.

Whether there ever was, is, or will be, an industrious nation poor, or an idle rich?

2. Qu. Whether a people can be called poor, where the common sort are well fed, clothed, and lodged?

3. Qu. Whether the drift and aim of every wise State should not be, to encourage industry in its members? And whether those who employ neither heads nor hands for the common benefit deserve not to be expelled like drones out of a well-governed State?

4. Qu. Whether the four elements, and man's labour therein, be not the true source of wealth?

5. Qu. Whether money be not only so far useful, as it stirreth up industry, enabling men mutually to participate the fruits of each other's labour?

6. Qu. Whether any other means, equally conducing to excite and circulate the industry of mankind, may not be as useful as money.

7. Qu. Whether the real end and aim of men be not power? And whether he who could have everything else at his wish or will would value money?

8. Qu. Whether the public aim in every well-govern'd State be not that each member, according to his just pretensions and industry, should have power?

9. Qu. Whether power be not referred to action; and whether action doth not follow appetite or will?

10. Qu. Whether fashion doth not create appetites; and whether the prevailing will of a nation is not the fashion?

11. Qu. Whether the current of industry and commerce be not determined by this prevailing will?

12. Qu. Whether it be not owing to custom that the fashions are agreeable?

13. Qu. Whether it may not concern the wisdom of the legislature to interpose in the making of fashions; and not leave an affair of so great influence to the management of women and fops, tailors and vintners?

14. Qu. Whether reasonable fashions are a greater restraint on freedom than those which are unreasonable?

15. Qu. Whether a general good taste in a people would not greatly conduce to their thriving? And whether an uneducated gentry be not the greatest of national evils?

Table of contents (by pages)

• 1: Querist by George Berkeley
• 2: Whether the denominations being retained
• 3: And their industry consequent thereupon
• 4: And shall the pubic act without an end
• 5: For supplying the British navy with hempen manufactures
• 6: And raise hemp in the counties of Clare and Limerick
• 7: We ought not to lessen our imports
• 8: Whether anything is a nobler ornament
• 9: Unless restrained by the public
• 10: By elder wine for French claret
• 11: Where there are so many natives naked and famished
• 12: Whether a bank of national credit
• 13: And the inconveniencies thereof in others
• 14: The better to answer domestic circulation
• 15: Are equally to be apprehended in a pubic one
• 16: Lying dead in the bank of Amsterdam
• 17: In the late ruinous schemes of France and England
• 18: Whether there have not been Popish recusants
• 19: Whether Popish children bred in charity schools
• 20: Whether it can be reasonably hoped
• 21: Whether even our private banks
• 22: That the bank of Amsterdam never makes payments in cash
• 23: The pawns are punctually sold by auction
• 24: To a thousand millions of livres
• 25: Whether sixteen hundred millions of livres
• 26: The appetite thereof be not infinite
• 27: Whether a public compte en banc
• 28: One of which cannot be exported
• 29: Whether an assembly of freethinkers
• 30: Whether they are yet civilized
• 31: And erected a dozen workhouses in every county
• 32: Whether fools do not make fashions
• 33: Whether there is any country in Christendom
• 34: If there be hazards from mismanagement
• 35: And whether numbers running the same risk
• 36: Whether the objection to a pubic national bank
• 37: And yet notwithstanding such abuse
• 38: But whether they are not still prejudices
• 39: And act as cashier to the bank
• 40: Whether therefore a tax on all gold and silver in apparel
• 41: Whether those inspectors should not
• 42: Than by a reduction of our coin
• 43: If a reduction be thought necessary
• 44: And coin a ticket conveying power
• 45: Without the proper means of circulation
• 46: Whether there be any woollen manufacture in Birmingham
• 47: But whether a punctual people do not love punctual dealers
• 48: Fine wearing linen in a fourth
• 49: A manufacture of hats at Athlone
• 50: Whether Lyons be not a gainer by this trade
• 51: Whether this use be not to circulate
• 52: Although the capillary vessels are small
• 53: To fortify and increase its momentum