Qu. Whether there are more than two things that might draw silver out of the bank, when its credit was once well established, to wit, foreign demands and small payments at home?
Qu. Whether it is not worth while to reflect on the expedients made use of by other nations, paper-money, bank-notes, public funds, and credit in all its shapes, to examine what hath been done and devised to add to our own animadversions , and upon the whole offer such hints as seem not unworthy the attention of the public?
Qu. Whether great evils, to which other schemes are liable, may not be prevented, by excluding the managers of the bank from a share in the legislature?
Qu. Whether, having considered the conveniences of banking and paper-credit in some countries, and the inconveniences thereof in others, we may not contrive to adopt the former, and avoid the latter?
Qu. Whether by a national bank, be not properly understood a bank, not only established by public authority as the Bank of England , but a bank in the hands of the public, wherein there are no shares: whereof the public alone is proprietor, and reaps all the benefit?
Qu. Whether it be rightly remarked by some that, as banking brings no treasure into the kingdom like trade, private wealth must sink as the bank riseth? And whether whatever causeth industry to flourish and circulate may not be said to increase our treasure?
Qu. Whether the bank projected by Murray, though it partake, in many useful particulars, with that of Amsterdam, yet, as it placeth too great power in the hands of a private society, might not be dangerous to the public?
Qu. Whether such banks as those of England and Scotland might not be attended with great inconveniences, as lodging too much power in the hands of private men, and giving handle for monopolies, stock-jobbing , and destructive schemes?
Qu. Whether a bank in private hands might not even overturn a government? And whether this was not the case of the Bank of St. George in Genoa ? ______________ [Footnote: See The Vindication and Advancement of our National Constitution and Credit . Printed in London 1710.]
Qu. Whether such an accident would not particularly affect the bankers? And therefore whether a national bank would not be a security even to private bankers ?
Qu. Whether a bank of national credit, supported by public funds and secured by Parliament , be a chimera or impossible thing? And if not, what would follow from the supposal of such a bank?
Qu. Whether it may not be worth while to inform ourselves in the nature of those banks? And what reason can be assigned why Ireland should not reap the benefit of such public banks as well as other countries?
Qu. Whether national banks are not found useful in Venice, Holland, and Hamburg? And whether it is not possible to contrive one that may be useful also in Ireland?