Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-01-29
BY PAUL ALLEN, ESQ.
TO THE PUBLIC

]
1T seems little Surprising that amongst
Z so many subjects IS have been present
ed for American Biography, the lives Of
those who have affiy.l their signatures 10
the Declaration Of Independence have been
overlooked or disrcGarded. The eyes OF
thousands have dwell with rapture upon the
document that announced to the word that
these United Colonies were, and Of right
ought 10 be, free, sovereign, and indepen-
dent States" while we are better acQuainl-
ed with the handwriting than with the cha
racters OF many OF those lustrous men
who have added their signatures to that in
srument. The founders of the only re-
naming republic on the globe. have, with
few splendid exceptions, gore TO their
graves, AMI il behores generous posterity,
sensible Of their obligations, 10 preserve
their fame. he longer we neglect the
payment of so sacred debt, the more diff
cult does the payment become. Traits OF
Individual character are fugitive and eva
nesCent; anr' II they are not snatChed by
the hand of the Geographic Muse, a, an ear
ly season, from the col grasp of death, will
soon partake of the oblivion of the body
| 1t is not tie object OF the present attempt,
TO deal in that profusion of ndiscrminate
| and unsparing panesyric, so often and SO
falsely digniliei with the name of Biogra-
| ply: we wish to represent The characters
| as they were ; they stand in need OF no pa
negyric; and we earnest ~ solicit from the
surviving relations and friends of those re-
yo!ulonary patriots all the information that
will tend to Development of character.
Man is the creature of circumstance, and
we wish to show the progress of those pa
triots from their first resistance OF colonial
aggression, until they stood forth the noble
and undaunted champions Of their country's
independence. All this can only be done
| Ivy familiar acquaintance with the lives of
these men, and whoever Of the surviving
friends or relatives will furnish facts and
circumstances il their possession 10 unfold
and illustrate their characters, shall be en-
titled to copy Of the work as recon-
pense. 1t is contemplated, wherever it is
practicable, further to enbellisb the medi-
tated work with correct likenesses 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 will transmit, to the publisher any en-
craving or portrait from which copy may
be taken, tire original shall be faithfully re-
turned Ind shall likewise be remunerated
with copy of the work. In the first num-
her il is proposed to give an account Of The
Declaration of independence, from the first
motion that was made on the floor of con-
gress until its final passage into law, pc
Rod embracing much curious and secret
history: finally, we promise TO add to our
last number the Declaration of lndepen-
the signatures. We have now compendi-
ously stated the objects of our present I'M
dertaking, and we hope that it will be un-
necessary 10 mention that no exertions Oh
our part shall be spared.
The public are now in possession of our
project, which does indeed seem to be de.
handed, by the avidity 80 recently display
ed for the possession OF the Declaration oil
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 OF our De-
claration of Independence, the lives oftbose
who have affixed their signatures to thatin-
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.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be published in num-
bers, or half volumes. of $50 pages octave,
and will be contained in ten numbers.
ii. 1t will be printed on fine paper made
expressly for the purpose, and delivered 10
subscribers at two dollars and fifty cents per
half volume or number, payable on deIIs-
cry.
GrSubscriptions will be received at'he
Office OF the Alexandra Gazette. eh
! December 90