THB EMIGRANT'S HAND-BOOK. 849 



of all the post routes is about one hundred and sixty-five 

 thousand miles. 



THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, whose salary is four thousand 

 dollars, exclusive of fees, is also a member of the Cabinet; 

 and, besides attending to certain legal matters of the gov- 

 ernment, it is his duty to give an opinion on questions of 

 law whenever required by the executive. 



The annual expenses of the Government average about 

 twenty-five millions of dollars ; but owing to the payment 

 of interest on the public debt, and other temporary demands 

 on the treasury, they are at present one-third more than 

 the ordinary amount. Three-quarters of this is obtained 

 by duties on imposts, and most of the balance by the sale 

 of public lands. 



THE PUBLIC LANDS 



Are interesting to the emigrant for a variety of reasons. 

 They offer to the millions of the Old World, in the present 

 and future generations, a home of plenty. The lands are 

 generally fertile, and vast quantities of them situated on 

 navigable waters. In another place, (p. 352,) the laws 

 regulating their purchase and sale will be found. The 

 United States own upwards of one thousand millions of 

 acres, which will form a certain income for ages. 



POLITICAL PARTIES. 



There are two leading parties in the United States, at 

 present known by the names of Democrat and Whig. 

 These parties are pretty nearly balanced : sometimes one 

 elects the President, and sometimes the other. This 

 equality of strength is a great blessing to the country, for 

 if the party in power conduct improperly, the majority 

 can soon be influenced to turn against it. 



