_George the Fourth_.--The attributes of this potentate, who was the most popular monarch England has had for many years, are thus severely described, by Thomas Jefferson in his correspondence of 1789. "He has not a single element of mathematics, of natural and moral philosophy, or of any other science on earth, nor has the society he kept been such as to supply the void of education. It has been that of the lowest, the most illiterate and profligate persons of the kingdom without choice of rank or mind & with whom the subjects of conversation are only horses, drinking matches, bawdy houses, and in terms the most vulgar. The young nobility, who begin by associating with him, soon leave him disgusted with the insupportable profligacy of his society; and Mr. Fox, who has been supposed his favorite, and not over nice in the choice of his company, would never keep his company habitually. "He has not a single idea of justice, morality, religion or of the rights of men, or any anxiety for the opinion of the world. He carries that indifference to fame so far, that he would probably not be hurt were he to lose his throne, provided he could be assured of always having meat, drink, horses & women." _Essex Register,_ Aug. 26, 1830. * * * * * President Stiles of Yale College on the public revenue. _Extract from President STILES's Election Sermon._ BUT I pass on to another subject in which the welfare of a community is deeply concerned, I mean the publick _revenues_. National character and national faith depend on these. Every people, every large community is able to furnish a revenue adequate to the exigences of government. But this is a most difficult subject; and what the happiest method of raising it, is uncertain. One thing is certain, that however in most kingdoms and empires the people are taxed at the will of the prince, yet in _America_, the people tax themselves, and _therefore cannot tax themselves beyond their abilities_. But whether the power of taxing be in an absolute monarchy, a power independent of the people, or in a body elected by the people, one great error has, I apprehend, entered into the system of Revenue and Finance in almost all nations, viz. restricting the collection to money. Two or three millions can more easily be raised in produce, than one million in money. This collected and deposited in stores and magazines, would, by bills drawn upon these stores, answer all the expenditures of war and peace. In one country it has been tried with success for ages; I mean in _China_, the wisest empire the sun hath ever shined upon. And here, if I recollect aright, not a tenth of the Imperial revenues hath been collected in money. In rice, wheat and millet only are collected 40 millions of sacks, of