Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-01-12
By PAUL ALLEN, ESQ.
TO THE PCRLN.

IT seems little surprising that amongst
4 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 disrcgarded. The eyes OF
thousands have dwelt with rapture upon the
document that announced to the world that
5. these United Colonies were, and OF right
ought 20 be, free, sovereign, and indepcn-
dent States" while we are betteracquaint-
ed with the handwriting than with the cha
racters of many of those illustrious men
who have added their signatures to that in
strumcnt. The founders of the only re-.
naming republic On the globe, have, with
few splendid exceptions, gone TO their
graves, and it behoves agenerous posierity,
sensible of their obligations, to preserve
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 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, vii!
soon partake of the oblivion of the body
It is not the object OF the present attempt,
to deal in that profusion of indiscriminatc
and unsparing panegy rio, so often and 50
falsely dignfied with the name of Bogra-
ply: we wish to represent the characters
as they were; they stand in need Of no pa
negyric aud we earnestly solicit from the
surviving relations and friends OF those re-
evolutionary patriots all the information that
will tend to dcye!opement of character.
Man is the creature of circumstance, and
we wish 10 show the progress Of those pa
triots from their first resistance OF colonial
aggression, until they stood forth the noble
anG undauntcd champions Of their Coun,ry'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 and
circumstances il their possession TO unfold
and illustrate their characters, shall be ell
titled to a copy of the work as 4 recon-
pense. 1t is contemplated, wherever it is
practicable, further to embellisa 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, the original shall be faithfully re-
turned, and 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 Oh the floor OF con-
gress Until it, final passage into law, pc
Rod embracing much curious and secret
history: finally, we promise to add to our
last number the Declaration of Indepen-
denCe itself, with fac-simile eugravngs OF
the signatures. We have now compendi-
ousiy stated the objects of our present un-
dtrtaking, and we hope that it will be un-
necessary TO mention that no exertions on
our part shall be spared.
The public are now in possession of our
project, which does indeed seem TO be de-
manded, by the avidiiy 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 a mans
hand writing without previous knowledge
of the man. The secret history OF otr De-
claration of Independence, the lives of,tEose
who have affixed their signatures to that in
s,rument, accompanied by their l;kenesses,
and finally the Declaration itself with fac
sihbco vi uiC nIS HdtuiCo. WIN UlIiIS IIlto Ole
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.
IL. Ii will be printed on fine paper made
expressly for the purpose, and delivered to
subscribers at two dollars and fifty cents per
half volume or number, payable OH deli,-
cry.
-TSubscript;ons will be received at The
office OF the Alexandria Gazette.
December