Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-23
By PAUL ALLEN, ESQ.
TO THE PUBLIC.

IT seems little surprising that amongs;
so many subjects IS have been present
ed for American Biography, the lives of
those VINO have affixed their signatures to
the Declaration of independence have been
overlooked or disregarde,i. The eyes of
thousands have dwelt with rapture upon the
document that announced to the world that
these United Colonies were, and of right
ought to be, free, sovereign, and indepen-
dent states;" while we are better acquaint-
ed with the handwriting than with the cha
racters of many Of those iIIuslrious men
who have added their Signatures to that in.
strument The founders of the only re.
manning republic on the globe, have, with
few splendid exceptions, gone 10 their
graves, and it behoves 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 they are not snatched by
the hand of the Geographic Muse, at an ear
" season, from the cold grasp Of death, will
soon partake of the oblivion of the body
It is not tie object OF the present attempt
TO deal in that profusion of indiscriminae
and unsparlng paneayric, so often md -
falsely dlgnIhef with the name OF Biogra-
phy: we wish to represent the charactes
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 development of character.
Nan is the creature of circumstance. and
we wish To show the progress of those pa.
riots from their first resistance of colonial
aggression. unlil they stool forth the noble
AMI undaunted champions of their countrya
independ, nee. All this can only be done
by familiar acquaintance with the lives Of
these men, and whoever of the surviving
friends or relative. will furnish fact, end
circumstances il their posse sson to unfold
and illustrate their characters, shall be en-.
titled to a copy of the work as a recon.
pense. 1t is contemplated, wherever it IS
practicable, further to embelIish 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 a copy may
be taken, the original SHALL be faithfully re-
turned, and shall likewise be remuneratea
with copy of the work. In the first mum.
Der it is proposed to give an account OF the
Declaration d independence, from the first
motion that was made on the floor of con.
gress until its final passage into law, Pc
Rod embracing much curious and secre.
history: finally, we promise to add to 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 I.esent I'M
dertaking, and we hope that it will be un-
necessary TO mention that no exertions Oa
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 tor the possession of the Declaration o.
independence, since il is of very little i'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 ofthose
who have affixed their signatures to tIatir.
strgmen1, accompanied by their likenesses,
and finally the Declaration itself with tac'
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-
rers. or half volumes, Of $50 pages oc.avo,
and will he contained in ten numbers.
III. 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.
OpSubscript;ons will be received ttEe
Office of the Alexandra Gazete.