to seven hundred thousand.  In the next place, there never was any reason to expect that the increase of our exports of agricultural products would keep pace with the increase of our population.  That would be against all experience.  It is, indeed, most desirable, that there should be an augmented demand for the products of agriculture; but, nevertheless, the official returns of our exports do not show that absolute want of all foreign market which has been so strongly stated.

But there are other means by which to judge of the general condition of the people.  The quantity of the means of subsistence consumed, or, to make use of a phraseology better suited to the condition of our own people, the quantity of the comforts of life enjoyed, is one of those means.  It so happens, indeed, that it is not so easy in this country as elsewhere to ascertain facts of this sort with accuracy.  Where most of the articles of subsistence and most of the comforts of life are taxed, there is, of course, great facility in ascertaining, from official statements, the amount of consumption.  But in this country, most fortunately, the government neither knows, nor is concerned to know, the annual consumption; and estimates can only be formed in another mode, and in reference only to a few articles.  Of these articles, tea is one.  It is not quite a luxury, and yet is something above the absolute necessaries of life.  Its consumption, therefore, will be diminished in times of adversity, and augmented in times of prosperity.  By deducting the annual export from the annual import, and taking a number of years together, we may arrive at a probable estimate of consumption.  The average of eleven years, from 1790 to 1800, inclusive, will be found to be two millions and a half of pounds.  From 1801 to 1812, inclusive, the average was three millions seven hundred thousand; and the average of the last three years, to wit, 1821, 1822, and 1823, was five millions and a half.  Having made a just allowance for the increase of our numbers, we shall still find, I think, from these statements, that there is no distress which has limited our means of subsistence and enjoyment.

In forming an opinion of the degree of general prosperity, we may regard, likewise, the progress of internal improvements, the investment of capital in roads, bridges, and canals.  All these prove a balance of income over expenditure; they afford evidence that there is a surplus of profits, which the present generation is usefully vesting for the benefit of the next.  It cannot be denied, that, in this particular, the progress of the country is steady and rapid.

We may look, too, to the sums expended for education.  Are our colleges deserted?  Do fathers find themselves less able than usual to educate their children?  It will be found, I imagine, that the amount paid for the purpose of education is constantly increasing, and that the schools and colleges were never more full than at the present moment.  I may add, that the endowment of public charities, the contributions to objects of general benevolence, whether foreign or domestic, the munificence of individuals towards whatever promises to benefit the community, are all so many proofs of national prosperity.  And, finally, there is no defalcation of revenue, no pressure of taxation.