Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-07-31

shalt afford evidence Of what our citiacns haze
done in politics and cGn DO in art ~
PLAN AND TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
Wnen the Publisher submitted the proceeding
pat9eGf his intention 60 undertake tins M ionat
publication, although it had long occupied his
reflections, he was not fully aware OF its impor-
| tapce, for he had never suspected what The fact
really IS, that there is NO WHERE extant AN att
thentic published copy of the most important
State Paper IN the annals of the world.
The ORIGINAL Declaration Independence, as
deposited i'll the Secretary of States Office, was
happily preserved when so many valuable papers
were consumed by the enemy. Without dwell.
ing upon slight differences, inaccuracies or oins-
sions, the first words which present themselves
in our prin ed COPIES and even as they are OF re-
cord on the Journals of the Old Congress, are as
follow:
+" 4 DEFAMATION Bv THE pEPnEsEyrATIyEs or
TIE UNirEn STATES OF A,tEaIcA, coSGnEss
AssEMDLED," Whereas in the original, the Decia-
ration is thus headed -
"rHE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF THE THIN
TEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA"
This is not mere verbal distinction it in.
wolves difference ia principle. Does il become
Americans TO he careless on this subject or ought
Interpolation or alteration Of any kind to be per-
mitted in public document so sacred Ought
II not TO DC faithfully preserved and transmitted
to posterty word for word, letter for letter, and
point for point The American public win I'M
hesitatingly answer YES and the Publisher
stands pledged to have it so engraved, and to ac-
company it with a regular proof of authenticity.
The SIZE Of The Paper will be SO inches by 2f
1t will be manufactured by Mr.. Ames, in his best
manner and of the very best materials.
| The Design, which is from the pencil of AIR.
| Bridport, VIII be executed in irnitation Of Bias
| IeeLief; and Will ehcircle the Declaration as
Gordon OF honor, surmounted by the arms of the
| United States Immediately underneath the
arms will be large medallion portrait of Gene
raj GEORGE WASHINGTON, supported by
cornucopir, and eni5eiishea 7pith Spears, Fyags,
and other -ihGtary trophies and eFl5ieas. ON one
side OF this madellion portrait, will be similar
portrait of JOHN. HANCOCK, President of Con
| gress, July a, 1776; and on the other portrait
OF THOMAS JEFFERSON, author OF the De-
claration of Independence.
| The Arms " of the Thirteen United States, !" in
medallions, united with wreaths of Olive Leaves,
will form the remainder OF the Gordon, which
will be further enriched by some of the charac-
teristc productions of the United States such as
| the Tobacco & Indigo Plants, the Cotton Shrub
Rice, &c.
| The whole of the design excepting the por-
traits0 will be engraved by Mr.. Murray of Phila-
| deiphia, who has for some weeks been at work
on the plate.
Mr.. Leney, of New-York, will engraye the
portraits.
BY the advice of all the Artists engaged, the
| Publisher has abandoned the idea of printing The
Declaration with TYPES, and has determined e
have the whole Of t ENGRAVED. The ornamental
disposition and style ofthe engraving of the De
claration of independence, which will occupy tlt
interior OF the Gordon, viii be designed and exc
cuted by Mr. Fsirman
The fac-Simrles will be engraved by Mr.. val
lance, who will execute this important part O
| the publication at the city of Washington, where
by permission of the Secretary of State, he viii
have the ORIGINAL SIGNATURES constantly under
his eve.
The public are well apprzed that the gentle
men whose names have been mentioned, as un
| dertsking particular departments in the promo
sed publication, are the first Artists ir The Uni
ted States, and they have, one and ali, assurat
the Publisher that they viii sedulousy deyo.J
themselves to the execution of the several part,
they have undertaken, and viii finish them in sucl
a manner, as TO do credit to themselves and L
the country, so far as depends on the anxious
employment of their respective talents on thi
national work.
The PORTRAITS will be engraved from orfqinc
paintings and the most esteemed licensees.
The Arms of the United States, and of the Sc
veral States, viii be faithfully executed FRoS
OFFICIAL DESCRIPTIONS AMI DOCUMENTS, and il
the manner directed by the most approved au
thors on the science of Heraldry.
From the arrangements made, and the dispo
sitions manifested by the artists it is confdentl
expected that this engraving will be, when fin
ished, q splendid and truly national publication
The Publisher thinks he can promise that it shall
be ready TO deliver to subscribers in Februar,
next, at TEN dollars each copy, to be paid OF
delivery.
The engraviEgs will be accompanied by
PAMPHLET, containing the official doeuuenfs con
nected with the publication as authorities, and ,
list ofthe Subscribers Names
The engravings Will be delivered TO Subscr
bers IN the manner in which they may have sub
scrbed.
II IS contemplated to have few copies printed
on paper prepared to carry colours to have the
Shields accurately tinc'ure in the modern style,
and the Plants, &c. coloured by one of our most
approved water colourers. Tue price of those
superb copies will be THIRTEEN dollars cache
As no more of those copies will be printed than
shall be subscribed for, gentlemen WHO wish for
them, are requested to add the word c0Ionre1f'
their subscription.
JOHN BINNS,
No. 20, Chestnut sfreet.
PHILADELPHIA, June, 1916.
| 0rSUBscRIrroNs.f or the above proposed sbiea
did Engruving will be rsceiped a; fsis etFce.