Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-12-29
By JOHN SiNDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider The personal quaIi,e,
OF The statesmen whose names are affixed IN
the Declaration of Independence, the peri.
lous occasion which demanded the ey, rtion
OF their wisdom and deIibrration, and The
influence OF their councils on the interests NJ
mankind, we must acknowledge tia, very
rarely more imposing spectacle has Leen
offered TO the world, and we shall sceA in
vain in the annals Of nations, for an event
more worthy Of commemora,iOn, anu of eng
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love Of indcpen-
dence IS interviewer with the frame and con-
stltution of the human mind L is almost
the first sentiment that anIma!es the inlarl's
features in the cradle ; and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man. none has
aWa6ed INTO activity greater exerti0n Of the
vlruous energies OF his nature, none has ex-
cited greater warmth Of veneration. and
has more Imperious claims upon our grati.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In al republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he.
ro who has promoted the Cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity 81
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features. from The
grasp OF death, aud the pen OF the historian
has Inscribed the achievements 10 the impe-
rishab'e records OF fame II would indeed
be no favor bile Drognosiic of the perpetmty
of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibrlily to the obligations we owe the
memory OF the llIuslrloLs patrons OF American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity. from the arbitrary dominion OF
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescIip-
tinle rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, ther!or-
tunes and their sacred honors ;" and. as long
rs virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
their SUCCESSOR, the example of these gene
rou> benefactors " i'll not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor he forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds he confounded in
'ht common and casual transaction OF lie -
lngraltude is vice that IN nations, as web
as individuals, indicates The last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption ; il is vice that
implies the absence If every vi,ue it was
in The age OF Callgula that the name OF the
Scipics was prescribed, that thu state Of
Brulus brought death on ii, pUssessor.
The glory of our ancestors IS The light OF
posterty.' and the homage Of the ivi cam
not be offered to the merits OF the llu,rIouS
dead with an etfectua or sterile admiration.
Great and splepGid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die OF ord'-
nary objects in prospect. Ii Is BY conIempla-
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by tier emf.
nent qualities, that we become emu!ous OF
their virtues and their re nown. I he lrol lies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of be mis-.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploit. OF
Hercules, was fired with bis spirit. ahd be-
came The successful rival OF his fame. he
rude savage OF The desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, ana hang. a-
round his hut the embems Of his fathers va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage OF our
fellow citizens. with hope, that from Inc
liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able 10 present it to the public worthy Of
their appreciation. We must depend Tor The
illustration OF many Of the characters OF our
biography, upon The generosity OF their sur
vrsing relatives and friends, to furnish US with
whatever interesting materials may he in iheIF
possession for which, with our grateful &C;
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF hs
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiibed in numbers or
half volumes of eco pages, octave, snc
contained in ten numbers. To the hrst
will be prehxed an appropriate fronts,
pisce-and the work will be commenced
with the declaration of independence, VITA
engraved fac Smiles Of the signatures, and
compendiou. detail of the proceedings OF
congress, during the passage OF the law
Each Of the lives, unless when il is I'M
practicable, will be preceded by Ike,
ness of the person, engraved BY the oes'
artists 10 the United States.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, mace
expressly for the purpose, and de lIV.Iea
to subscribers at fwo dollar, and Vtycens
per number, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions re ceived at this ON &C.