Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-11
By PAUL ALLEN, ESQ.
TO THE pUBIN

I seems a little surprising that amongst
d SO many subjects as have been present
ed for American Biogrsphy, the lives OF
those who have affixed their signatures 10
the Declaration Of independence have been
oyerl oEed or disrcgarded. The eyes al
thousands have dwelt with rapture upon the
document that announced to the wori,i tat
these United Colonies were, and of rigIG
ought TO be, free, sovereign, and indeprrf.
dent stitps;" while we are better ac1uank
ell with the handwriting than with the cha.
racters of many OF those iIlustrious men
who have added their sgn,iures to that IN.
s'rument. The founders of The only re.
naming republic on the globe, have, With
lew splendid exceptions, gone 10 their
graves, ana il behoves generous poslerity,
sensible OF their obligations, to preserve
their fame. The longer we neglect the
payment of so sacred debt, the more diff.
cult does the paymen! become Trails oil
individual character are fugitive and eva
nesccnt; 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 partake of the Oblivion of the body.
1t is not the object OF the present attempt
TO deal in that prolusion of indiscriminatt
and unsparmg pane%yric, so often and -
false y dignihed with The name OF Riogra.
ply: we wish to represent the characters
as they were, they stand in need OF no pa
negylic; and we earnestly solicit from the
surviving relations and friends of those re-
evolutionary 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 cOIOnia
aggression, until they stool forth the ncble
am undaunted champions of their Counlrys
independ, nee. All this can only be done
Ivy familiar acquaintance with the lives II
these men, and whoever of the surviving
friends or relatives will furnish fscts End
circumstances il their possession TO unfold
and illustrate their characters, Mall be en-.
titled to a copy of the work as a recon.
Pense. 1t is contemplated, wherever it IS
practicable, further to enbelish the med.
tated work with correct likenesses OF the
subjects of our biography, executed by the
most eminent artists in the country. Fr
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 faithfully TT.
turned, and shall likewise be remunerated
with copy Of the work. In the first mum.
Der it is proposed to give an account Of the
Declaration of independence, from the first
motion that was made OH the floor OF con-
gress until its final passage into law, ape
riod embracing much curious and secret
history finally, we promise to add to our
last number the Declaration of lndepen:
dence itself, with fac-simile eDgravings OF
the signatures. We have now compendI-
ously stated the objects of our present I'm.
dertaking, and We hope that it will be up-
necessary TO mention that no exertions On
our part shall be spared.
The public arc now in possession OF ouf
project, which does indeed seem 10 be de-
handed, by the avidity so recently display.
ed for the possession of the Declaration oil
independence, since il is of very little 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 Of those
who have affixed their signatures to thatIn'
strumenl, accompanied by their Iikenesses,
and finally the Declaration itself with !ac'
SMILES Of the signatures, will bring into one
compact view the prominent facts oil thai
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will beHublished in num-
bers, or half volumes, Of $50 pages octave
and will be contained in ten numbers.
ii. II will be printed on fine paper MADE
expressly for the purpose, and delivered 70
subscribers at two dollars and fifty cents per
half volume or number, payable on deli'-
cry. 80, ,.h.
frSubscriptons will be received stthe
Office OF the Alexandra Gazette.
December 60