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 contentedly sit down in a cold, damp, sordid habitation, in the midst of a bleak country, inhabited by thieves and beggars?
413 Whether, on the other hand, a handsome seat amidst well-improved lands, fair villages, and a thriving neighbourhood may not invite a man to dwell on his own estate, and quit the life of an insignificant saunterer about town for that of a useful country-gentleman?
414 Whether it would not be of use and ornament if the towns throughout this kingdom were provided with decent churches, townhouses, workhouses, market-places, and paved streets, with some order taken for cleanliness?
415 Whether, if each of these towns were addicted to some peculiar manufacture, we should not find that the employing many hands together on the same work was the way to perfect our workmen? And whether all these things might not soon be provided by a domestic industry, if money were not wanting?
416 Whether money could ever be wanting to the demands of industry, if we had a national bank?
417 Whether the fable of Hercules and the carter ever suited any nation like this nation of Ireland?
418 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?
419 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?
420 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?
421 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?