182 



Dollars, or 53,571 guineas. This estimate is exclusive 

 of the military expense. That varies ^vith ^the force 

 actually employed, and in time of ])cace will probahly 

 be little or nothing. It is exclusive also of the public 

 debts, which are growing while 1 am writing, and can- 

 not therefore be now fixed. So it is of the maintenance 

 of the ])oor, which being merely a matter of charity 

 cannot be deeuicd exi)endcd in the administration oiT 

 government. And if we strike out the 25,000 dollars 

 for the services of the clergy, which neither makes part 

 of that administration, more than what is ])aid to phy- 

 sicians, or lawyers, and being voluntary, is either much 

 or nothing as every one pleases, it leaves 225,000 dol- 

 lars, equal to 48,208 guineas, the real cost of the appa- 

 ratus of government with us. This divided among the 

 actual inhal)itants of our countrv, comes to about two 

 fifllis of a dollar, 21 d. sterling, or 42 sols, the price 

 which each pays annually for the protection of the resi- 

 due of his property, and the other advantages of a free 

 government. The public revenues of Great Britain 

 divided in like manner on its inhabitants would be ]6 

 times greater. Deducting even the double of tlie ex- 

 penses of governnient, as before estimated, from the 

 million and a half of dollars which we before supposed 

 might be annually paid without distress, we may con- 

 clude that this state can contribute one million of dol- 

 lars annually towards supfiorting the federal army, 

 ^ paying the federal debt, building a federal navy, or 

 opening roads, clearing rivers, forming safe port-., and 

 other useful works. 



To this estimate of our abilities, let me add a word 

 as to the a|)plication of them. If, when cleared of the 

 present contest, and of the debts with which that will 

 charge us, we come to measure force hereafter with 

 any European power. Such events are devoutly to be 

 deprecated. Young as we are, and with such a coun- 

 try before us to fill with people and with happiness, we 

 should ]joint in that direction the whole generative 

 force of nature, wasting none of it in efforts of mutual 

 destruction. It should be our endeavour to cultivate 



