Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-08-23
Philadelphia, March, 1916.
Plan and Terms Of Subscription.

Plan and Terms Of Subscription.
When he Publishei subinittcd the PEE
.ediug notice of his intention to under
re this national publication. although it
al long occupied his reflections. he was
eot fully aware Of It's importance, tor he
al never suspected what the tact really
;. that there Is 40 where extant an au-
hentic published copy ofthe most impor-
ant State Paper in the annals OF the
World.
The Original Declaration of indepen.
ience. as deposited in the Secretary OF
states Office, was happily preserved
when 50 many valuable papers were con-
,nmed by the enemy. Without dwelling
lpan slight differences, inaccuracies, or
the first words which present
themselves in our printed copies, and
wen as they are of record on the Journals
Of the Old Congress, are as follow:
"a Declaration by the Representatives
IF the United States OF America in Con
grcss assembled, where's in the origi-
nal the Declaration is thus headed -
The Unanimous Declaration of the
Thirteen United States of America"
This is not mere verba! distinction !;
t involves a difference in principle. Does
t become Americans to be careless on
his subject, or ought interpolation or al
GRAFTON of any kind to be permitted in a
public document SO sacred Ought it not
o be faithfully preserved and transmit
ed to posterity word for word, letter for
etter, and point Cor point? The Anne
lean public will unhesitatingIy answer
les and the publisher stands pledged
o have It so engraved, and to accompa-I
y it with TIE requisite proofs OF authen
icity.
The size oil the Paper viii be Sc inches
y "a. 1T vii! be manufactured by Mr..
,mias, in his best manner and oil the veryl
est materials.
The Design, which is from the pencil
f Mr.. Dridport, viii be executed in I'M
alton Of Bias Relief: and will encirclel
he Declaration as a gordon of honor, sur
1ounted by the Arms of the United
,tates. Immediately underneath the
rms will be a large medallion portrait of
General George Washington, supported
y cornucopiae, and eD,bei!ished with
pears, Flags, and other Military trophies
nd emblems. On one side of this me
ALTON portrait. will be a similar portrait
{ John Hancock, President Of Congress,
al i, l776 and on the other, a por
gait OF Thomas Jefferson, author Of the
declaration of Independence.
The Arms 6 Of the Thirteen United
tates," in medaliions, united by wreaths
f Olive Leaves, sill form the remainder
{ the Gordon, which will be further en-
icbed by some of the Characteristic pro
uctions of the United States /; such as
he Tobacco and Indigo Plants, the Cot
On Shrub, Rice. &c.
The whole Of tie design, excepting the
ortraits, will be engraved by MIR. Mur-
az, of Philadelphia, who has for some
,eeks been at work on the plate.
Mr., Leney, of Ney-iork, will en-
rave the portra Is.
BY the advice OF all the artists engag-
Il, the publisher has abandoned the idea
printing the Declaration with Typesi
I'd has determined to have the whoe O.
Engraved. The ornamental d'spos!-
on and style of the engraving OF the De-
laration of independence. which will &C
spy the interior of the Gordon, will be,
esigned and executed by Mr. Fairman.
The fac SMILES Will be engraved byI
Ir. Valance, who viii execute this IL, |
ortant part of the publication at the cit
t Washington, where, BY permission oil
ae Secretary of State, he will have tt |
original Signatures constantly under hi /
We.
The public are well apprized that tbs
entiemen whose naMes have been mel
oned, as undertaking particular depart
,ents in the proposed publication are ~
rst artists in the United States, and the