Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-02-02
By PAUL ALLEN, ESQ.
TO TIE PUBLN.

IF seems little surprising that amongst
50 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 disrcgardei. The eyes of
thousands have dwell witt, rapture upon the
document that announced 10 the world that
8 these United Colonies were, and of right
ought 10 be, tree, sovereign, and indepen-
dent states" while we are better acquainl-
ed with the handwriting than with the cha.
racters of many OF those iiiustrious men
who have added their signatures to that IN.
strument. The founders of The only re-
manning republic On the globe, have, with
4 few splendid exceptions, gone TO their
graves, and il behores generous posterty,
sensible of their obligations, to preserve
their fame. The longer we neglect the
payment of so sacred debt, the more dill.
cult does the payment become. Traits Of
individual character are fugitive and eva
nescent; and ii they are not snatched by
the hand Of the Geographic Muse, at an ear
~ season, from the colo grasp of death, will
soon partake of theobivion of the body
1t is not tie objc { oil the present attempt,
10 deal in that profusion Of ndiscriminate
and unsparing panegyric, so often and SO
falsely digniGed with The name OF Biogra.
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.
Nan is the creature of circumstance, and
we wish TO show the progress OF those pa
trioiS from their first resistance OF colonial
aggression, nett they stool forth the noble
and undaunted champions OF their country's
J 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 ia their possession TO untold
and illustrate their characters, shall he en-
titled to copy Of the work as recon-
pense. II is contemplated, wherever il is
practicable, further to embellish 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-
Der it is proposed to give an account Of the
| Declaration Of independence, from the first
motion that was made on the floor Of cor.
gress until its final passage into law, pc
Rod embracing much curious and secret
] Gn,llx, pro,oico 10 I'D IN, our
last number the Declaration Of Indepen..
dence itself, with fac-simile engravings Of
the signatures. We have now compendi-
ously stated the objects Of our present un-
dertaking, and we hope that it will be un-
necessary 10 mention tha! no exertions On
our part shall be spared.
The public are now in possession OF our
project, which does indeed seem to be de-
handed, by the avidity so recently display.
ed for the possession of the Declaration oil
independence, Since ii is Of very little I'M
port to become acquainted with mas
hand writing without previous knowledge
Of the man. The secret history OF our De-
claratien of Independence, the lives OF those
who have affixed their signatures to thatin'
strument, accompanied by their likenesse:,
and finally the Declaration itself with ae-
SMILES of the signatures, will bring into one
compact view the prominent facts Of that
interesting crisis.
CONDITIONS.
| ]. The, work will be published in NUM-
bors, 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 tive dollars and fifty cents per
half volume or number, payable on dellF-
| cry.
i 0TSubscriptiens will be received attbe
Office oil the Alexandra Gazette,
! December 99