Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-02-04
By PAUL ALLEN, ESQ.
TO TIKI, PUBLIC

TT seems little surprising that amongs,
y so many subjects as have been present
ell for American Biography, the lives of
those who have affixed their signatures to
the Declaration Of independence have been
overlooked or disrcgaried The eyes of
thousands have dwell with rapture upon the
document that announced 10 the world that
these United Colonies were, and of right
ought TO be, free, sovereign, and indepen-
dent states;" while we are better acquainl-
ed with the handwriting than With the cha
racters of many of those illustrious men
who have added their signatures to that IN
slrlment. The founders Of the only re-
naming republic on the globe, have, with
few splendid exceptions, gone TO their
graves, and il behoves generous posterity,
sensible of their obligations, to preserve
their fame. The longer we neglect the
pa, nlent of so sacred debt, the more diff
cult does the payment become Traits OF
individual character are fugitive and eva
nescent; and if they 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
Ii is not the object OF the present attempt,
TO deal in that profusion Of ndiscriminate
and unsparing panegyric, so often and so
falsely digniGed with The name OF Biogra-
ply: we wish to represent the characters
as they were they stand in need of no pa
ncgyric and we earnestly solicit from the
surviving relations and friends of those re-
evolutionary patriots all the information that
Will tend to a development of character.
Nan is the creature of circumstance, and
we wish TO show the progress of those pa
triots from their first resistance of coloaiai
aggression, until they stood forth the noble
ana 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 OF relatives will furnish facts end
circumstances ia their possession 10 unfold
and illustrate their characters, shall be ell
titled to copy of the work as a recon-
pense. 1t is contemplated. wherever il is
practicable, further to enlbellish the medi-
tated 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
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, a 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 eDgravings OF
the signatures. We have now compendi-
ously stated the objects of our present uh-
derlaking, and we hope that it will be IN
necessary 10 mention that no exertions or
our part shall be spared.
The public are now in possession Of ouT
project, which does indeed seem TO be de-
mannd.i, by the avidily sorecently display.
ed for the possession of the Declaration Of
independence, since il 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 Of those
who have affixed their signatures to tbatin-
strument, 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
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be published in num-
bers, or half volumes, Of $50 pages octave,
| and will be contained in ten numbers.
II. II will be printed on fine paper made
expressly for the purpose, and delivered TO
subscribers at two dollars and fifty cents PEI
half volume or number, payable on delIV'
cry.
hrSubscriptions will be received attte
Office OF the Alexandra Gazette.
!! December 90