46 UNITED STATES. expense of the last absorbing nearly the amount that lands sell for. The public expenditure is, about 2,000,000 dollars to pay the whole civil list,—4,000,000 to maintain the military,—3,700,000 to support the naval esta¬ blishments. Three millions dollars of the revenue go to pay the interest of the public debt, and the remaining seven millions are made a sinking fund of, to reduce the debt. These sums, to conduct the affairs of so great a country, are astonishingly small; but we must not forget that each of the States have their separate and respective public departments, revenues, and expenditures, the maintaining of which altogether requires great sums. The military force of consists chiefly of the militia, which now amount to 800,000 men capable of bearing arms, who would, no doubt, defend their property and country with great bravery; but they would, from want of training and subordination, form a most awkward and unmanageable army. In skirmishing, or in small parties, however, the general use of firelocks makes them deadly marks¬ men. The government has lately established mili¬ tary schools ; from which great improvement in the discipline and training of the militia is expected. There is also a regular force of about 10,000 infantry. These men are by no means trained like European soldiers; and consist chiefly of the most worthless, indolent, and spiritless people in the country, who, being too lazy to cultivate the soil,