Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-12-30
By PAUL ALLEN, ESQ.
TO 1HE PUBLIC.

III seems little surprising that amongst
i SO many subjects as have been present.
ed for American Biography, the lives Of
those who have affixed their signatures 10
the Declaration Of independence have been
overlooked or disregarded. The eyes OF
thousands have dwelt with rapture upon the
document that announced to the world that
"these United Colonies were, anu Of right
ought to be, free, sovereign, and indepen.
dent states;" while we are better acquainl.
ed with the handwriting than with tie cha.
racters Of many Of those illustrious men
who have added their signatures to that in.
strument. The founders of the only re.
manning republic on the globe, have, with
few splendid exceptions, gone 10 their
graves, and il behoves generous posterity,
sensible of their obligations, to preserve
their fame. The longer we neglect the
payment of so sacred debt, the more diff.
cult does tile payment become. Trails If
individual character are fugitive and eva
nescent; and If they are not snatched by
the hand of the Geographic Muse, at an ear
ly season, from the cold grasp of death, will
soon partakc of the Oblivion Of the BODY
1t is not tue object OF the present attempt,
to deal in tiai proiusion OF indiscrimiaate
and unsparing panesyric, SO often and so
falsely dignhed with the name OF RiGgra-
ply: we wish Ia represent The ch''aclers
as they were ; they stand in need OF no pa
negylic aud we earnestly solicit from the
surviving relations and friends Of those re-
evolutionary patriots all the information that
viii lend to a deveIopemcnt of character.
Man is the creature of circumstance, and
we wish 10 show the progress Of those pa
triois from their first resistance OF colonial
aggression. uitil they stood forth the noble
and undaunted champions of their country's
independence. All this can only be done
by familiar acquaintance with the lives Of
these men, and whoever of the surviving
friends or relatives will furnish facts aud
circumstances il their possession to unfold
and illustrate their characters, shall be en-
titled to a copy of the work as recon-
pense. Ii is contemplated, wherever il is
practicable, further to embellsh che medi-
tated work with correct licensees Of the
subjects of our biography, executed by the
most eminent artists in the country. For
this purpose we again solicit the assistance
of their surviving relatives and friends. II
they win transmit to the publisher any en-
grazing or portrait from which a copy may
be taken, the original shall be faithfully re-
turned, and shall likewise be remunerated
with copy Of the work. 10 the first num-
Der Il is proposed to give An account Of the
Declaration of independence, from the first
motion that was made on the floor OF con-
ores, until its final passage into a law, Pc
Rod embracing much curious and secret
history: finally, we promise to add to our
last number the Declaration Of lndepen.
dence itself, with fac-simile engravings Of
the signatures. We have now compendi-
ously stated the objects Of our present un-
deriaking, and We hope that it will be I'M
necessary 10 mention tina! no exertions on
our part shall be spared.
The public are now in possession Of our
project, which does indeed seem TO be de-
handed, by the avidily so recently display.
ed for the possession Of the Declaration Of
Independence, since il is OF very little i'm
port TO become acquainted with mans
hand writing without previous knowledge
of the man. The secret history oil our De-
clarstion OF independence, the lives OF those
who have affixed their signatures to thatln-
strunent, accompanied by their likenesses,
and finally the Declaration itself with fac
SMILES Of the signatures, will bring into one
compact view The prominent facts OF that
interesting crisis:
I. The work wilt be published in num-
bers. or half volumes, of $50 pages octave,
and will be contained in ten numbers.
II II. II will be printed on fine paper made
expressly for tie purpose, and delivered to
subscribers at two dollar. and fifty cents r.
half volume or number, payable on delit-
t-Subscriptions will be received at the
office OF the Alexandria Gazette.
December 90
Engineer Department,