Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-01
By PAUL ALLEN, Ese.
TO THE pTBIN

seems a Ilttie surprising that anonTSt
4 so many subjects as have been present
ed fer American Biography, the lives of
those W no have affixed their signatures to
the Declaration Of independence have been
overlooked or disrcgaried The eyes OF
thousands have dwelt with rapture u pom the
document that announced to the world that
these United Colonies were, and of right
ought To be, free, sovereign, and indeper.
dent stites;" while we are better acauaint-
ed with The handwriting than with the cha
racters of many OF those illustrious men
who have added their sign lures to that M
s'rumtnt. The founders of The only re-.
naming republic en- the globe. have, with
few splendid exceptions, gone TO their
graves, and i! behoves 9 generous poslerity,
sensible of their obligations, to preserve
their fame. The longer we neglect the
payment of so sacred debt, the more ditfi-
cult does the payment become. Traits Of
Individual character are fugitive and eva
nesccnt; and if trey are not snatched by
the hand of the Geographic Muse, at an ear
ly season, from the cold grasp of death, will
soon partake of the Oblivion of the body.
1t is not the object OF the present attempt,
10 deal in thai profusiOn of indiscriminatt
and unsparing panegyric, so often and so
falsely dignified with the name OF Biogra-
ply: we wish to represent the characters
as they were they stand in need OF no pa
neg}ric; ana. 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 10 show the progress of those pa.
triots from their first resistance OF colonial
aggression, until they stood forth the noble
and 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 End
circumstances il their possession TO unfold
and illustrate their characters, shall he en-
titled to a copy Of the work as a recon-
pense. 1t is contemplated, wherever it is
practicable, further to enlbelish the medi.
tated work with correct likenesses of the
subjects of our biography, executed by the
most eminent artists in the country. Fox
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 a copy of the work. In the first num-
Der il is proposed to give an account Of the
Declaration OF 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 secret
history: finally, we promise to add to our
last number the Declaration of Indepen..
dence itself, with fac-simile eugravings Oh
the signatures. We have now compend!.
ously stated the objects of our present un-
dertaking, and we hope that il will be uu'
necessary to mention tina! no exertions on
our part shall be spared.
The public are now in possession OF on!
project, which does indeed seem 10 he de-.
manded, by the avidiiy so recently display.
ed for the possession Of the Declaration o!
independence, since II is of very little i'm
port to become acquainted with a mans
hand writing without previous knowledge
of the man. The secret history OF our De.
claration of independence, the lives oftbose
who have affixed their signatures TO tbatin.
strument, accompanied by their likenesss,
and finally the Declaration itself with fac
Smiles of the signatures, VII bring intoone
compact view the prominent facts Of that
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be published in mum.
bers, or half volumes, Of $50 pages octave,
and will be contained in ten numbers.
II. 1t 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 deliv-
cry. 80,
tTSubscriptions will be received atibe
Office OF the Alexandra Gazette.