It Is Not Easy To Ascertain With Precision What Is The Present Amount Of Debt Due By The United States; Nor Probably Has Any Tolerably Accurate Guess Been Yet Given Of The Amount To Which It May Be Extended During The Present War.

A statement made in the House of Representatives by Mr. Spaulding, a member of the Committee of Ways and Means, on the 29th of January last, may perhaps be taken as giving as trustworthy information as any that can be obtained.

I have changed Mr. Spaulding's figures from dollars into pounds, that they may be more readily understood by English readers: -

There was due up to July 1, 1861 18,173,566 pounds. " added in July and August 5,379,357 " " borrowed in August 10,000,000 " " borrowed in October 10,000,000 " " borrowed in November 10,000,000 " " amount of Treasury Demand Notes issued 7,800,000 " - - - - - 61,352,923 "

This was the amount of the debt due up to January 15th, 1862. Mr. Spaulding then calculates that the sum required to carry on the government up to July 1st, 1862, will be 68,647,077l. And that a further sum of 110,000,000l. will be wanted on or before the 1st of July, 1863. Thus the debt at that latter date would stand as follows: -

Amount of debt up to January, 1862 61,352,923 pounds. Added by July 1st, 1862 68,647,077 " Again added by July 1st, 1803 110,000,000 " - - - - - - 240,000,000 "

The first of these items may no doubt be taken as accurate.

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