Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-13
By PAUL ALLEN, ESQ.
TO THt, PTRLN

L seems little surprising that amongst
: so many subjects as have been present.
ed for American Riogr3 ply, the lives of
those who have affixed their signatures 70
the Declaration OF independence have been
overlooked or isrtgardcd. The eyes Of
thousands have dwclt with rapture upon the
document that announced to the world tan
these United Colonies were, and of riri.f
ought TO be, Tree, sovereign, ani indepGa.
Ient ST ties; while we are better acauairt-
ed with the handwriting than with the cha.
racters of many OF those ilus,rious nco
who have ;.dded their signatures to that m
slrument. The founders of the only re.
;Haining republic en- the glote. have, with
few splendid exceptions, gone 10 their
graves, and il behoves generous posterity,
ensible OF their obligations, to preserve
Their lame. The longer we neglec. the
payment OF so sacred debt, he more diff
cult does the payment become Traits OF
individual character are fugitive and eva
nescent; and it they are not snatched by
the hand OF the Geographic 6Iuse, at an ear
ly season, from the col, grasp Of de dh, viii
soon partake Of tine oblivion of the body
1t is not the object OF the present altempt,
to deal in that profusion of indscriminate
and unsparing panegyric, so often md 90
falsely disnifed with the name OF Biogra-
phy we wish to represent the Charactcs
a they were they stand in need OF no pa
neg nc and we earnestly solicit from the
surviving relations and friends of those re-
voluIona;y patriots all the information that
will tend to a development of ch,iacter.
NJ. 4
we wish 10 show the progress of those pa
triots from their first resistance OF coioniaa
aggression, until they stood forth the noble
AMI undaunted champions of their countrye
independence. All this can only tie done
hy familiar acquaintance with the lives OF
these men, and whoever of the surviving
friends or relatives will furnish facts End
circumstances il their possession TO unfold
and illustrate their characters, sldl lie en-
titled to a copy of the work as a recon-
pense. 1t is contemplated, wherever it is
practicable, further to embeliish the mcd-
tated work with correct likenesses OF the
subjects of our biography, executed by the
most eminent artists in the country. fr
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 nay
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 trst
motion that was made on the floor OF con-
greSs 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 lndepen-:
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 il will be uE-
necessary TO mention that 10 exertions OF
our part shall he spared.
The public are now in possession OF our
project, which does indeed seem 10 he de-
handed, by the svidiy so recentIy display.
ed for the possession of the Declaration. 0!
independence, since ii 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 Of iNose
who haze affixed their signatures to tbatf
strument, accompanied by their likenesses,
and finally the Declaration itselt with !ac-
SMILES of the signatures, will bring ntoG nt
compact view the prominent facts o. tha'
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be published in num-
bers, or half volumes, of $50 pages octave
and will be contained in ten numbers.
III. 1t will be printed on fine paper mase
expressly for the purpose, and delivered 70
subscribers at two dollars and fifty cents per
half volume or number, payable on DEW
cry. go, .,.,he
ftJSubscriptions will be received attoe
Office OF the Alexandra Gazette.
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