42 Whether, nevertheless, it be not also true, that no man who hath credit in the bank can want money from particular persons, who are willing to become creditors in his stead?
43 Whether any man thinks himself the poorer, because his money is in the. bank?
44 Whether the creditors of the bank of Amsterdam are not at liberty to withdraw their money when they please, and whether this liberty doth not make them less desirous to use it?
45 Whether this bank be not shut up twice in the year for ten or fifteen days, during which time the accounts are balanced?
53 Whether we are by nature a more stupid people than the Dutch?
And yet whether these things are sufficiently considered by our patriots?
54 Whether anything less than the utter subversion of those Republics can break the banks of Venice and Amsterdam?
55 Whether at Hamburgh the citizens have not the management of the bank, without the meddling or inspection of the Senate?
56 Whether the directors be not four principal burghers chosen by plurality of voices, whose business is to see the rules observed, and furnish the cashiers with money?
57 Whether the book-keepers are not obliged to balance their accounts every week, and exhibit them to the controllers or directors?
58 Whether any besides the citizens are admitted to have compte en banc at Hamburgh?
59 Whether there be not a certain limit, under which no sum can be entered into the bank?
60 Whether each particular person doth not pay a fee in order to be admitted to a compte en banc at Hamburgh and Amsterdam?
61 Whether the effects lodged in the bank of Hamburgh are liable to be seized for debt or forfeiture?
62 Whether this bank doth not lend money upon pawns at low interest and only for half a year, after which term, in default of payment, the pawns are punctually sold by auction?
63 Whether the book-keepers of the bank of Hamburgh are not obliged upon oath never to reveal what sums of money are paid in or out of the bank, or what effects any particular person has therein?
64 Whether, therefore, it be possible to know the state or stock of this bank; and yet whether it be not of the greatest reputation and most established credit throughout the North?
1
67 Whether the bank called the general bank of France, contrived by Mr Law, and established by letters patent in May, 1716, was not in truth a particular and not a national bank, being in the hands of a particular company privileged and protected by the Government?
68 Whether the Government did not order that the notes of this bank should pass on a par with ready money in all payments of the revenue?
69 Whether this bank was not obliged to issue only such notes as were payable at sight?
70 Whether it was not made a capital crime to forge the notes of this bank?
71 Whether this bank was not restrained from trading either by sea or land, and from taking up money upon interest?
72 Whether the original stock thereof was not six millions of livres, divided into actions of a thousand crowns each?
73 Whether the proprietors were not to hold general assemblies twice in the year, for the regulating of their affairs?
74 Whether the accompts of this bank were not balanced twice every year?
75 Whether there were not two chests belonging to this bank, the one called the general chest containing their specie, their bills and their copper plates for the printing of those bills, under the custody of three locks, whereof the keys were kept by the director, the inspector and treasurer. also another called, the ordinary chest, containing part of the stock not exceeding two hundred thousand crowns, under the key of the treasurer?
76 Whether out of this last mentioned sum, each particular cashier was not to be intrusted with a share not exceeding the value of twenty thousand crowns at a time, and that under good security?
77 Whether the Regent did not reserve to himself the power of calling this bank to account, so often as he should think good, and of appointing the inspector?
78 Whether in the beginning of the year 1719 the French King did not convert the general bank of France into a Banque Royale, having himself purchased the stock of the company and taken it into his own hands, and appointed the Duke of Orleans chief manager thereof?
79 Whether from that time, all matters relating to the bank were not transacted in the name, and by the sole authority, of the king?
80 Whether his Majesty did not undertake to receive and keep the cash of all particular persons, subjects, or foreigners, in his said Royale Banque, without being paid for that trouble? And whether it was not declared, that such cash should not be liable to seizure on any pretext, not even on the king's own account?
81 Whether the treasurer alone did not sign all the bills, receive all the stock paid into the bank, and keep account of all the in-goings and out-goings?
82 Whether there were not three registers for the enregistering of the bills kept in the Banque Royale, one by the inspector, another by the controller, and a third by the treasurer?
83 Whether there was not also a fourth register, containing the profits of the bank, which was visited, at least once a week, by the inspector and controller?
84 Whether, beside the general bureau or compter in the city of Paris, there were not also appointed five more in the towns of Lyons, Tours, Rochelle, Orleans, and Amiens, each whereof was provided with two chests, one of specie for discharging bills at sight, and another of bank bills to be issued as there should be demand?
85 Whether, in the above mentioned towns, it was not prohibited to make payments in silver, exceeding the sum of six hundred livres?
86 Whether all creditors were not empowered to demand payment in bank bills instead of specie?
87 Whether, in a short compass of time, this bank did not undergo many new changes and regulations by several successive acts of council?
88 Whether the untimely, repeated, and boundless fabrication of bills did not precipitate the ruin of this bank?
