Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-15
Plan and Terms of Subscription.

When the Published subuitted the pre-
ceding notice of his intention TO under
take This national publication, although It
had long occupied his reflections. he was
not fully aware of it's Importance, tor ne
had never suspected what the tact reall'
is. that there is 40 where extant an a9
thentic published copy ofthe most lnpot
tant State Paper in the annals OF the
world.
The Original Declaration Of indepen
dence, as deposited in the Secretary o.
States office, was happily preserved
when so many valuable papers were con-
sumed by the enemy. Without DWELLING
upon slight differences, inaccuracies, OF
omissions, the first words which present
themselves in our printed copies, and
even as they are of record on the Journals
of the Old Congress, are as follow:
GA Declaration by the Representatives
of the United States Of America in Con
gress assembled, "-whereas 10 the orIsl-
nal the Declaration is thus headed =
"The Unanimous Declaration of the
Thirteen United States of America"
This is not mere verbal distinction;
lit involves difference in principle. Does
1T become Americans to be careless on
this subject, or ought Interpolation or al
teration of any kind TO be permitted In a
puolic document SO sacred Ought II not
to be faithfully preserved and TRANSMIT
ted to posterity word Tor word. letter Tor
letter, and polut for point +? The Anne
rican public will anhesitatlogl answer
Yes (! and the publisher stands pledged
to have IT so engraved, and to accompa-
nv it with the requisite proofs OF anthem
ITCHY.
Tie size OF the Paper will be So inches
|by "a. 1t will be manufactured by Mr.
imies. in his best manner and OF the very
best materials. :,
The Design, which is from The pencil
of Mr.. Bridport, will be executed IN mi
taton of Bas Relief; and will encrcle
Ilhe Declaration DIS a Gordon OF honor, sur
mounted by the Arms of the United
Estates. Immediately underneath the
arms will be large medallion portrait OF
General George Washington, supported
Iby cornucopiae, and enbellished wltlI
Spears. Flags, and other Military trophies
Iand emblems. On one side of this me-
|dall;on portrait, will be similar portrait
| Of John Hancock, President OF Congress
July 4, 1776; and Oh the other, por
| trait of Thomas Jefferson, author OF the
Declaration of independence.
The Arms q of the Thirteen Umten
States," in medalions, united by wreat''>
| of Olive Leaves, will form the remainde'
| of the Gordon, which will be further e"
riched by some of the characteristic pro
ductiens of the United States; such
the Pobacce and Indigo Plants, the Co
ton Shrub, Rice, &c.
The whole Of the design. excepting the
lportraits. will be engraved by Mr. Muir
ray, of Philadelphia, who has Tor some
weeks been at work on the plate.
Mr.. Leney, of New-York, will en-
grave the portraits.
By the advice of all the artists engasg5
ed, the publisher has abandoned the 'dea
of printing the Declaration with Typesi
land has determined to have the whole O.
lit Engraved The ornamental dlsposi-
| ton and style of the engraving Of the De
claratlon of independence. which will &C.
! cupy the interior of the Gordon, will b,
designed and executed by Mr.. Fairman
The fac SMILES will be engraved by
ar. Valance. who viii execute this im
oortant part of the publication at the cit ,
+ Washington, where, by permission Of
be Secretary OF State, he will have the
| original Signatures constantly under his
ye.
The public are well apprized that the
qntlemen whose names have been men
oned, as undertaking particular depart
.ents iu the proposed publication are csc
lrst artists in the United States, and they