Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-01-13
Of independence.
By PAUL ALLEN, ESQ.
TO THE PUBLIC

1 seems Htte surprising tnaI amongst
Il so many subjects as 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 disregarded. 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 ipdepen.
dent statesi' while we are bett, s,couant.
ed with the handwriting than with The cha.
raCters of many of those i!lustrious men
who have added their Signatures to that in.
strument. The founders Of the only re-
naming republic on the globe, have, with
few splendid exceptions, gone 10 their
graves, and il behoves generous posterity,
sensible of their obligations. to preserve
their fame. The longer we neglect the
payment of so sacred debt, the more diff
cul, does the payment become. Trails of
individual character are fugitive and eva.
nescent; and if they are not snatcbed by
the hand of the Geographic Muse, at an ear.
ly season, from the cold grasp of death, will
soon partake of tine oblivion of the BODY
1t is not tie object Of The present attempt.
to deal in that profusion Of indiscriminate
and unsparing panegyric, so often and so
false y digniied with the name of Biogra-
ply: we wish to represent the charact
as they were /; they stand in need of no pa
hegyric 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.
Man is the creature of circumstance, and
we wish 10 show The progress of those pa
triots from their frs resistance of colonial
aggression, until they stood forth the noble
AMI undaunted champions of their Country's
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 il their possession 10 unfold
and illustrate their characters, shall be en-
titled to copy of the work as a recon-
pense. 1t is contemplated, wherever il is
practicable, further to cmhelIish the medi.
ta;ed 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-
her it is proposed TO give an account of the
Declaration of independence, from the first
motion that was made on the floor OF con-
eress until its final passage into law, pc
Rod embracing much curious and secret
history: finally, we promise to add to our
last number the Declaration of indie PEN
dence itself, with fac-simile ehgravings of
| the signatures. We have now compendi-
ously stated the objects of our present I'M
der,aking, and we hope that it will be IN
| necessary to mention that no exertions on
our part shall be spared.
The public are now in possession Of our
| project, which does indeed seem 10 be de-
manded, by The avidity serecently display
| ed for the possession of the Declaration OF
| 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-
| claraton Of independence, the lives of those
who have affixed their signatures to tbatin-
strun,ent, accompanied by their likenesses,
| and finally the Declaration itself with fac
SMILES Of the signatures, will bring into one
compact view The prominent facts Of that
interesting crisis.
| CONDITIONS.
I. The work will be published in num-
bers, or half volumes, Of $50 pages octave,
and will be contained in len numbers.
II. 1t will be printed OH fine paper made
expressly for the purpose, and delivered to
subscribers at two dollars and fifty cents per
half volume or number, payable on deliv-
cry.
HTSubscriptions will be received at the
office oil the Alexandria Gazette.
| + December go