Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-07-25
plar and Terms of subscriptioi'.

When the Publishes SuDinltteu lho P,S i
:eding notice Of his intention to under /
axe this national publication, although Z
lad long occupied his reflections. ne wa
lot fully aware of its Importance, Tor ne
lad never suspected what the tact reall
5. that there is no where extant an au
hentic published copy ofthe most lmpor- /
ant State Paper in the annals oil the
world.
The Original Declaration of Indepen-
ience, as deposited in the Secretary OF
States office, was happily preserved
when SO many valuable papers were cor
sumed by the enemy. Without dwelling
upon slight differences, inaccuracies, Or
omissions. the first words which present
themselves in our printed copies, an'
even as they are of record on the Journals
Of the Old Congress, are as follow:
A Declaration by the Representative
If the United States of America IN Con
Dress assembled. whereas in the orig
nal the Declaration is thus headed -
.The Unanimous Declaration OF the
Thirteen United States Of America"
This is moi mere verbal distinction
Il involves difference in principle. Does
# become Americans to be careless Oh
This subject, or ought interpolation or al
teration OF any kind to be permitted IN a
public document So sacred Oushl 1t not
to be faithfully preserved and transmit
ted to posterity word for word, letter to-
letter, and point for point ? The Anne
r,ican public will unhesitatpgl, answer
yes and the publisher stands pledged
TO have It so engraved, and to accompa-
ny it With the requisite proofs OF authen
ticity.
The size of the Paper will be So inches
by "a. 1t will oe manufactured 10y Mr.
Smies, in his best manner and OF the very
best materials.
The Design, which is from the pencil
Of Mr.. Bridport. will be executed In inn
tation Of Bias Relief; and will encifci,
the Declaration as Gordon OF honor, sur
by the Arms Of the Unltea
states. Immediately underneath the
arms viii be a large medalliou portrait Of
General George Washington, suppofte
by cornucopae, and embellished Wi
Spears, Flags, and other Military trophie
and emblems. On one side OF this me-
dallion portrait, will be simiar portrait
Of John Hancock, President OF Congress,
,Ia1y 4, l7z6 /; and on the other, a POT
trait Of Thomas Jefferson. author OF tic
Declaration Of independence.
The Arms * of the Thirteen United
States" in medallions, united by wreath
of Olive Leaves, will form the remalhde
Of the Gordon, which will be further Ell
riched by some of the characteristic pro
Joctiens of the United States; such as
the fobaccs and Indigo Plants, the Cot
ton Shrub, Rice, &c.
The whole of the design. excepting the
portraits. will be engraved by Mr.. Muir
ray, of Philadelphia, who has for some
" eeks been at work on the plate.
Mr., Leney, OF New-lofk, will en-,
,ro,,a tba nortra;
r., t t,e pdv;ce ct al the artists enear
~ - -" anhI;gher bas abandoned the idea
- ~ n .'o inn tho naclarat;op with rypesf
and has determined TO have the whole o.
i Eor,syed The ornamental DISPOSE
fam and stgIe Of the engraving of the De
:. ,. ,ara+;nn of IpdpnendeTce. which viii &C.
,anv the interior Of the Gordon. will be
.os;5p.d and executed by Mr.. Fairman.
AZ a. e. a;m;l,e, will lie engraved by
~. Vs. rS ,,bo vii, evecufe this i'm
,o o,t nart of the pbjicatjon at the city.
e vUnsL;nnton where nv nermission of
no secretary Of State, he will have the
).ie;naI Signatures constantly under his