Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-07-17
a SPLENDID EDITION
PLAN AND TERMS OF sUpsonIpr1ov


When the Publisher submitted the preceedino,
notce OF hrs intention 10 undertake this national
publication, although it had long occupied hi.
reflections, he was not fully aware of IT'S imnor
lance, for he had never suspected what the fact
really IS, that there is NO WHERE extant am ar
thentic published copy of the most important
State Paper in the annals of the world.
The ORIGINAL Declaration independence &c
deposited in the Secretary of States Office wac
happily preserved when so many valuable papers
were consumed by the enemy. Without dwell.
ing upon slight differences, inaccuracies or cm;s.
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 nc
follow;
DECLARATION M THE REPREsEErATyyys OF
rHE UNITED STATES or AMERICA IN coSeRrss
AsssnDLED,"-whereas in the original, the Deeia-
ration is thus headed -
"TnR UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF raE THIN.
TEEN UrfTED STATES or AMERICA"
THIS IS not q mere verbal distinction il IN
wolves difference in principle. Does II become
Americans to be careless on this subject, or ought
Interpolation or alteration of any kind to be per.
mitted in public document so sacred '--Ought
IT not TO be faithfully preserved and transmitted
to posterity word for word letter for letter and
point forpoint The American public will I'M
hesitatnSly answer YES and the PublisIe.
stands pledged to haveit so engraved, and 70 &C
company 1t with regular proof Of authenticity.
Fne size IF The Paper Will be 80 incic. by 24
1t Will be manufactured by Mr.. Anes, in bis best
manner and of the very best materials.
The Design, which is from the pencil of Mr..
Bridpori, will be executed in imitation Of Bas
Re6ef; and viii encircle Che Declaration as q,
Gordon OF honor, surmounted'by the arms of the
United States. Immediately underneath tie
arms will be large medallion portrait of Gene
raj GEORGE WASHINGTON, supported bv
cornucopie, and em6elEsied D9M ISD.Grs. EYasS
and other Military trophies and e,n6less On one
side OF this radellion portrait, will be a similar.
portrait of JOHN HANCOCK, President of Con
gress, July 4, 1776: and on the other. a portrait
of THOMAS JEFFERSON, author Of the De-
claration of Independence.
The Arms of the Thirteen United States % IN
medaiiIons, united with wreaths of Olive Leaves
will form the remainder OF the Gordon. which
will be further enriched by some Of the charac.
teristic productions of the United States such az
the Tobacco & Indigo Plants, the Cotton Shrub
Rice, &c.
The whole of the design excepting the Dor.
traits,) will be engraved by My Murray of Phila.
delphIa, who has ior some weeks been at work
on the plate.
Mr.. LeneH of New-YoTk, will eneraye Ii,
portraits
BY the advice Of all the Artists engaged. The
Publisher has abandoned the idea of printing tho
Declaration with TYPES, and has determined 10
have the whole Of L ES6nAvID. The ornamental
disposition and style of the engraving of the De.
claration Of Independence, which will occupy the
interior of the Gordon, viii be designed and exc.
cuted BY Mr. Fsirman
The fle-simles will be engraved by Mr.. Val.
lance, who will execute this important part of
The publication at the city of Washington, where.
ny permission Of the Secretary Of State, he will.
have the ORIGINAL sIsSATUREs constantly under
his eye
The public are wellapprized that The gentle.
men whose names have been mentioned, as IN
dertaki1g particular departments in the promo.
sed publication, are the first Artists n The Uni.
ted States, and they have, one and all, assured
he Publisher that they will sedulously devote
themselves TO the execution OF the several parts
hey have undertaken, and viii finish them nsucl
manner, IS to do credit to themselves aid e
Che country, so far as depends on the anxious
employment Of their respective talents on this
NATIONAL work