The national debt will be totally extinguished in four years, when this country will present a curious spectacle for the serious consideration of European nations. During the space of fifty-six years, two successful wars have been carried on--one for the establishment, and the other for the maintenance of national independence, and a large amount of public works and improvements has been effected; yet, after the expiration of four years from this time, there will not only be no public debt, but the revenue arising from protecting tariff duties alone will amount to more than the expenditure by upwards of 10,000,000 dollars. A brief abstract from the treasury report on the finances of the United States, up to the 1st January, 1831, may not be uninteresting. Dollars. Cts. Balance in the treasury, 1st January, 1828 6,668,286 10 Receipts of the year 1828 24,789,463 61 _____________ Total 31,457,749 71 Expenditure for the year 1828 25,485,313 90 _____________ Leaving a balance in the treasury, 1st January, 1829, of 5,972,435 81 Receipts from all sources during the year 1829 24,827,627 38 Expenditures for the same year, including 3,686,542 dol. 93 ct. on account of the public debt, and 9,033 dol. 38 ct. for awards under the first article of the treaty of Ghent 25,044,358 40 Balance in the treasury on 1st January, 1830 5,755,704 79 The receipts from all sources during the year 1830 were 24,844,116 51 viz. Customs 21,922,391 39 Lands 2,329,356 14 Dividends on bank stock 490,000 00 Incidental receipts 102,368 98 _____________ The expenditures for the same year were 24,585,281 55 viz. Civil list, foreign intercourse, and miscellaneous 3,237,416 04 Military service, including fortifications, ordnance, Indian affairs, pensions, arming the militia, and internal improvements 6,752,688 66 Naval service, including sums appropriated to the gradual improvement of the navy[14] 3,239,428 63 Public debt 11,355,748 22 _____________ Leaving a balance in the treasury on the 1st of January, 1831, of 6,014,539 75 _Public Debt_.