Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-15
By PAUL ALLEN, ESQ.
TO THE PUBLIC

I seems little surprising that an,ongs,
!. so many subjects rs have been present.
ed for American Biography, the lives OF
those who have affixed their signatures TO
the Declaration of independence have been
overlooked or disrcgarded. The eyes OF
thousands have dwclt with rapture upon the
document that announced to the world lha,
8 these United Colonies were, and of rigln
ought 10 be, free, sovereign, and ndcpen,
dent states;" while we are better acq,ialn,-
ed with the handwriting than with the cha.
raCters of many OF those iiluslrious men
who have added their Signature, to that III.
strument. The founders of he only 70.
manning republic on the globe, nave, with
few splendid exceptions, gone 10 their
graves, ami il behoves generous poslerity,
sensible OF their obligations, to presere
their fame. The longer we neglect the
payment of so sacred debt, the more diff.
cult does the payment become. Traits OF
individual character are fugitive AMI eva,
nescent; ant il trey are not snatched by
the hand of the Geographic Muse, at an ear
y season, from the cold grasp of death, wiD
soon partake Of the oblivion of the body.--
It is not the object OF the present attempt
TO deal in thai prolusion of iniiscriminsf
and unsparing panegyric, so often md 80
,alseIy digniied with the name OF Biogra.
ply: we wish to represent the characteG
as they were; they stand in need OF no pa
negyric and we earnestly solicit from the
surviving relations and friends of those re.
evolutionary patriots all the information tina.
will tend to development of character
Man is the creature of circumstance, and
we wish 10 show the progress of those pa.
triotS from their first resistance OF c0lOnia
aggression, until they stood forth the noble
AM undaunted champions of their Countyt
independence. All this Can only be done
~ familiar acquaintance with the lives N
these men, and whoever OF the surviving
friends or relatives will furnish facts End
circumstances il their possession TO unfold
and illustrate their characters, Slali he en-
titled to a copy of the work as a recon-.
pense. 1t is contemplated, wherever it is
practicable, further to embelIish the medi'
tated work with correct iikenesses OF Inc
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, the original shall be iaithtullyre::
turned, and shall likewise be remuneraed
with copy of the work. In the first num-
her it is proposed to give an account OF the
Declaration OF Independence, from the INT
motion that was made OH the floor OF con-
gress until its final passage into law, ape.
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 engra'Ings Of
the signatures. We have now compendl'
ously stated the objects of our present un'
dertaking, and We hope that it will be u''
necessary TO mention that no eXertions Oh
our part shall he spared.
The public are now in possession OF Cui
project, which does indeed seem TO he de-
manded, by the avidily so recently display;
ed for the possession Of the Deci ration Q!
independence, since il is Of very little no.
port to become acquainted with man.
hand writing without previous knowledee
Of the man The secret history oil our De'
CHARLTON of Independence, the lives Of hose
who have affixed their signatures to thatis'
strument, accompanied by their likene'.es'
and finally the Declaration itself with lac.
Smiles of the signatures. will bring intornt
compact view the prominent fact, o. lnS'
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. ..
III. 1t will be printed on fine paper mace
expressly for the purpose, and delivered 70
subscribers at two dollars and fifty centsPe
half volume or number, payable on del''
cry. .,hA
tFSubscriptions will be received atH' !
office Of the Alexandra Gazette.