Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-10-25
By JOHN 3.iNDERSOM
TO THE PUBLIC.

III he fObLlC.
When we consider the personal qualities
of the statesmen whose names are affixed To
the Declaration of independence. the peril
Ious occasion which demanded the exercise
OF Their wisdom and deiiberatloh, and tho
influence oil their councils on the interests Of
mankind, We must acknowledge that very
rarely a more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and We shall seek III
vain I'D the annals Of nations, Tor an event
more worthy Of commemoratiun, and ofbeiig
Cherished forever n,he hearts of a gtaltiui
and generous people. he love Of inJepen-
dence Is interviewer with the frame and con-
strtution of the human mind. IL is almost
the FIRST sentiment that afnmates the infants
features in the cradle /; and amongst all the
actions and enterprises Of man, none has
awaked into activity a greater exertion ot the
yrluouS energies OF his nature, none has eY
cited a greater warmth OF veneration, and
has more i'm erious claims upon our graft
tudt, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In al republican states the first tribute o5
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he.
ru who has promoted The Cause OF Liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity Of
msn. %The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from the
grasp OF death, and the pen OF the historian
nds inscribed the achievements to the impe-
rishable records o, fame. 1t would indie Cd
be no iavor bic prOgnostic of he pefpstuiiy
If our republic IN institutions to discO,e Ell an
insensibhity TO The Obligations we owe the
memory OF the illuslriOLs patrons OF American
freedom. They have raised ", by their.
magnanimity, from tn, arbitrary dominion Of
a foreign power, 10 Tue distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people /; they
have asserted aud maintained the imprescrip-
tiole rights OF humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, theirfor-
tunes and their sacred honors !" and, as long
rs virtue holds her empire IN the. hearts Of
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benefactors v i'll not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be foIgot-
ten, or their glorious deeds be ~confounded in
the common and casual transaction of life.-
lngTatitu0e is a vice that in nations, as we'll
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption ; it is a vice that
implies the absence Of every viriue ; il was
in the age Of Caligula that the nane oil the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state e
Brntus brought death on its possessor.
The glory Of our ancestors is the light Of
posterity," and the homage Of tbeJivi,ig cam
not be offered to the merits OF the illU>triouS
dead with an e~ffectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be-
achieved by men who have hum Die or ordi-,
nary objects in prospect. II is by conte mpla.
ting the life and character Of those who are
marked out from the multitude BY their emf.
nent qualities, that we become enulOus 81
their virtues and their re nown. The trophies
Of Miltiades interrupted the sleepso o. Themise
tocles /; aud rheseus, hearing the exploits Oh
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be-
came the successful riyslof his fame. The
rude savage Of the desert listens with raptufe
to the deeds Of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the emblems ofhis fathers va
lOur.
More need not be said to enforce The utility
OF the publication we have undertaken. and
which we now submit 10 tile patronage ofouf
fellow. citizens. with a hope, that from the
liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able represent it 10 the public worthy oS
their appreciation. We must depend for the
illustration OF many of the characters Of our
biography, upon The generosity Of their sur
vIsing relatives and friends, t. furnish as with
whatever int resting materials may ne in their
possession ; for which, with our grateful acc
acknowledgements, we promise a copy Of the
entire work as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be publiihed IN numbers OF.
half volumes Of goo pages, octave. aud
contained in ten numbers. To The first
will be prefxed an appropriate fontis-
picce-and the work will br commenced
with the declaration of independence, with
engraved fac Smiles Of the signatures, and
a compendiou, detail of The proceedings Of
congress, during the passage OF the law.
Each Of the lives, unless when II is i'm.
practicable, will b. preceded BY a like
ness of the person, engraved by the best
artists 10 the United States.
II. II will be printed on fine paper, made
expressly for the purpose, and delivered
to subscribers at two doiiars aad fifty csnts
per number, payable or delivery.
subscriptions Jsssivsd at this once.