Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-02-19
BIZ PAUL ALLEN, ESQ.
10 THc.PERLE

Z / seems little surprising tha; amongst
q so many suhiecfs 3, hare been present
ed for American H--E5ghY. the lives Of
those who have a,ss-i ;iseir signatures to
the DecIaraiin- t sst1y~n,ience have beev
overlooked er tEfS-rartei. TIE eyes OF
thousands hare GTJ:, witA rapture upon the
documen. III; III vace: to lAe world that
9 these uui7eA Colonies we're, an! of right
ought 10 ht lrt.s. sovereign. and indepen-
dent stzits. Nalse We are better acluant-
ed WITH tt,s has II riting than with the cha
racteIs Cd ula1y OF these illustrious mep
who bare ADDED their signliures to that m
s.rumeni The founders OF the only re.
maining !epub:io on the globe. have, with
a few splendid exceptions. gone 10 their
graves, AMI il hchoves generous posterity,
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 trey are not snatched by
the hand of the Geographic Muse, at an ear
Iy season, from the COLI! grasp Of death, will
soon partake of the oblivion Of the body
It is not the object OF the present attempt.
to deal in that profusion of indiscriminats
and unsparing panegyric, so often and so
falsely dignifed with HE name OF Riogra.
ply: we wish to represent the characters
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 that
will tend to a development of character.
Man is the creature of circumstance. and
we wish to show the progress of those pa.
rio,s from their first resistance OF colonial
aggression, until they stood forth the noble
and undaunted champions of their counirys
independence. All this can only be done.
by a familiar acquaintance with the lives o!
these men, and whoever Of the surviving
friends or relatives will furnish facts End
circumstances il their possession TO unfold
and illustrate their characters, shall he en-
titled to copy OF the work as recon-
pense. 1t is contemplated, wherever II :
practicable, further to emIelIish the medl'
lated work with correct likenesses OF The
subjects of our biography, executed by the
most eminent artists in the country. 70.
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 faitbtuIlyre,,
turned. and shall likewise be remunerated
with copy of the work. In the first num-
Der il is proposed to give an account OF thf
Declaration Of Independence, from the ms
motion that was made on the floor Of con
gress until its final passage into a law, ape.
ROD embracing much curious and sccreS
history: finally, We promise to add to OUT
last number the Declaration of lndepen:.
dence itself, with fac-simile eugravings G
the signatures. We have now compenH'
ously stated the objects OF our present uA'
dfrtaking, and We hope that it Will be uG'
necessary to mention tha! no eIertIons o.
our part shall be spared.
The public are now in possession Oh guF
project, which does indeed seem TO be ds'
manded. by the avidi,y so recently display;
ed for the possession Of the Declaraton o.
Independence, since il is OF very little no
port to become acquainted with a man.
hand writing without previou, kncwleSSN
Of the man. The secret history oil our w.
claration OF Independence, the lives OF '.?.
who hare affixed their signatures to tha.m
strun,ent, accompanied by their llkenes.e:'
and finally the Declaration itself win az
smiles Of the signatures, will bring Inio ,b',
compact view the prominent facts Oh U.s.
interesting crisis:
!. The work will be published in nun
bers, or half volumes, Of $50 pages oe!a'V'
and will be contained in ten numbers. !.
II. Il will be printed on fine paper m1ts
expressly. for the purpose, and delivered
subscribers at two dollars and fifty cen!sEe
half volume or number, payable on deli'
cry. - ..ns
grSubscript;ons will be received l"'
Office Of the Alexandra Gazette.
A.n.-l~, 90