Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-10-28
By JOHN S.4yrDERSOE.
TO THE PUBLIC.


When we consider the personal qualities
Of the statesmen whose names are affixed TO
the Declaration OF Independence. the peri-
lous occas ION which demanded the exercise
OF their wisdom and detibrration. and the
influence OF their councils OH the interests Of
manNind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered 10 the world, end We shall seek in
VAIN IN the annals OF naIons tor an event
more worthy Oh COMMEMORATIVE, and Of Icing
cherished forever IN ne heart, OF a gitt.tul
and generous people. he love of m,iepens
denCe Is interviewer with the frame au, CUns
stituti0n oi the numan mind. II Is ,.ifnost
the tie: sentiment That annlales the intaDt's
features III the Cradle and amongst all the
actions md enterprises OF man, none has
awak-d into actvit! greater sx. rlion IT the
vTtUous energies OF his nature, nGne has exc
cited greater warmth OF AneratIOn. and
has more ImgerIous Claims upon Oui graft
tud., than resistance. 70 tyranny and political
aggression.
In ali republican states the first tribute Of
genus has been PAID to tor patriot or 3D., BE.
rO who has promoted the Cause OF liberty and
| maintained the independence and dignity of
man. line animated Canvas and Drea tlling
Marble have rescued his features trOn tho
grasp OF death. AID the pen Of the historian
H., inscribed the achievements 10 the impe.
r,shabie records o. fame. Ii would ind. I'd
~ no favor bic prog nostc of he perp.tuty
If our republican institutions t. dIsco,el On
insensibIlity to the Obligations we owe tie
memory Of tlle iiiuslrIoLs patrons OF Americsnf
freedoms. They have raised us, by their
magnanimity, from tn, arbitrary dominion of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
4 n q nd I'll. pi.,,,t
have asserted aud maintained the mprescrip-
ti,e rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge Of their lives, their for
tunes and their Sacred honors and, as long
IS virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benet.ctois will not be los TO the world;
their names will not pass away nor he forgot.
ten, or their Curious deeds he confounded in
The common and Casua, transaction of lite
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as veil
as ndivi iuals, indicsles the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption il is vice that
implies the absence of every virtue il was
in the age OF Calgula that the name of the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brulls brought death on its possessor.
be glory of our ancestors is the light Of
posterity," and the homage of the living can.
not be offered to the merits OF the ilu.friOifs
dead with an effectuai or sterile admirat,on. =
Great and Splendid actions will seldom lie
achieved by men who have hum Die or ordi.
nary objects in prospect. |, is by conrempTa-
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude 10y their emf
Dent qualities, that we become emul0us Of
their virtues and their re nown. he trophies !
of Miltiades Interrupted the sleeps Of I be mis-
tocies and Theseus, hearing the exploits Of
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and be- 1
came the successful rival of his fame The
rude savage OF The desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancesnrs. and hang. a.
round his hut the embiems of his fathers va. !
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
Of ihs publication We have jnt:ertakeD. and
which we nor submit 10 rie PATRONAGE ofour
fellow citizens. with cope, that from the
liberality OF their encouragement, we stall
be able To- present it to the public worthy Of
their appreciation. We must depend {, + The
illustration Of many ct the characters of our
biography. upon The generosity OF then SUR /
viyins relatives and friends, tn furnish us with
whatever int, resting materials may te in their
possession for which, with our grateful &C. 4
acknowledgements, we promise a copy of the i
entire ork as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbers or
half volumes of 200 pages. octave. and
contained in ten numbers To the first /
will be pretixed an appropriate frontis- |
piece and the work will be comm. nred 4
with the declaration Of independence, with
engraved lac Smiles of the Signatures. and |
a compendiou, detail of the prscee dings Of
congress. during the passage Of the law.
Each Of the lives. unless when il is i'm.
practicable, will b. preceded by like.
ness of-the person, engraved by the best
artists in the United States.
IL. II will be printed on fine paper, made
expressly for the purpose, and delivered !
to subscribers at tro dollars asd jftiy c.nss
pernumber. payable on delivery.
~ subscriptions received at this Office.