Austria, as 33 per cent.
France, ,, 38 per cent.
Prussia, ,, 44 per cent.
Great Britain, ,, 74 per cent. We are fond of comparing our own republican frugality with monarchical prodigality. National vanity, like charity, covers not only a multitude of sins, but also a multitude of follies. The average expenditure of the Federal Government, for the six years, ending with 1840, exclusive ofpayments on account of debt, \fiis $26,474,892.
During the same years, the average payments for military and naval purposes, were $21,328,903. Being EIGHTY PER CENT, of the whole amouut ! A greater ratia than is expended by any monarchy in Europe, in preparing for war.* * It is true, that during a portion of these six years, we were fighting a few Seminole Indians in Florida. If, then, we take the six years, ending with 1836, a time of profound peace, the ratio It is with difficulty we can give our assent to the accu- racy of such amazing disclosures ; and yet our scepticism will vanish when we consider that fortifications, barracks, store-houses, arms, ammunition, and ships of war are all mostly constructed in time of peace. But this is not all. Men are also to be trained and instructed in the art of human slaughter, and kept ready to put in practice at a moment's warning, the lessons they have received.
In 1828, a time of general peace, the standing armies of Europe were estimated at 2,265,500 men.* If to the pay of these men, we add the cost of their food, clothes, lodging, and of the arms, ammunition, barracks, &c., with which they were furnished, and the value of their labor which is lost to the community, v/e shall not exaggerate their expense to the State when we