Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-07-24
A SPLENDID EDITION
DECL.aR aTI0A. 81 IA.DEpEn.nEN
PLAN AND TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.

PLAN AND TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
When the Publisher s,iDmltted Tive proceeding
notice OF his intention TO undertake this national
publication, although it had Icing occupied his
reflections, he was not fully aware of it's impor-
lance, for he had never suspected what the fact
realty is, that there is WHERE extant an au-
thentlc published copy of the most important
State Paper IN the annals of the world,
The ORIGINAL Declaration Independence, as
deposited in 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 omiS-
sions, the first words which present themselves
in our prin ed copies, and even they are of re-
cord on the Journals of the Old Congress, are as
follow:
" DECLARATION Br THE REPnEsESTLTIvES OF
TIE uS1TEo STATES or AMERICA, IN CONGRESS
ASSEMBLED, whereas in the original, the Decla.
ration IS thus headed-
THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION or TIE TEIn-
TEEN UTIrED STATES OF AMERIoA."
This IS not mere verbal distinction it in
wolves difference in principle Does it become
Americans to be careless on this sub ect, Orought
Interpolation or alteration of any kind to be per-
nitted in public document so sacred fought
it not to be faithfully preserved and transmitted
to posterty word for word, letter for letter, and
point for point The American public will un-
hesitatngly answer YES and the Publisher
company it with regular proof of authenticity.
The size Of the Paper will be SO inches by "a
twill be manufactured by MIR. Ames, IN hi: best
manner and of the very best materials.
The Design, which is from the pencil of MIR.
Brdport, will be executed in imitation of Bias
Rei.f; and will encircle the Declaration as a
Gordon of honor, surmounted by the arIhs of the
United States. Immediately underneath the
arms will be large medalllon portrait of Geue-
raj GEORGE WASHINGTON, supported by
cornucopie, and embeiished with Spsars, Flags,
and other Military nopiies and en6iems. On oue
side OF this msdellon portrait, viii be a similar
portrait of JOHN HANCOCK, President OF Con
gress, July 4, 1776 and on The other, portrait
of THOMAS JEFFERSON, author of tine 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 charsc.
terstic productions OF the United States such as
the Tobacco & Indigo Plants, the Cotton Shrub,
Rice, &c.
The whole Of the design excepting the por.
traits,) Will be engraved by Mr.. Murray Of Phila
delPhiS. who has Tor some weeks been at work
on the plate.
Mr.. Leney, Of New-Yors, will engraye the
portraits.
BY the advice of all the Artists engaged, the
Publisher has abandoned the idea OF printing the
Declaration with rrPEs, and has determined to
have The whole of it ENGRAVED. The ornamental
disposition aud style ofthe engraving of the De.
claratlon Of independence, which will occupy the
interior of the Gordon, will be designed and exc
cuted by Mr.. Faieman.
The Jae-siuiies will be engraved by Mr.. VAL
lance, who will execute this important part OF
the publication at the city of Washington, where,
by permission Of the Secretary OF State, he will
have the oRIsIsAL SIGNATURES constantly under
his eye.
Tie public are well apprized that the gentle.
men whose names have been mentioned, as Tin
dertaking particular departments in the propO-
scd publication, are the first Artists IN the Uni
Ted States, and they have, one and ali, assured
the Publisher that they will sedulously devote
themselves TO the execution Of the several parts
they have undertaken, and will finish them in such