Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-01-01
Declaration Of Indepent
By PAUL ALLEN; Ess.
TO THE PUBLG.

III seems a little SURPRISING that amongst
4 so many subjects as have been present
ed for American Biography, the lives OF
those who have p.lixed their signatures 10
the Declaration OF Independence have been
overlooked or disrcgarded. The eyes I.
thousands have dwelt witt, rapture upon III"
document tina. announced to the word that
the Sc United Colonies were, amt OF right
ought, TO be, Tree, sovereign, and ;ndeper.
dent States" while We are better acquaini"
ed with the handnr iting than with the cha
racters of many Of those i,icstrious men
who have added their signatures to that n-
strument. The founders Of the only re-
manning republic on the globe, have, Wits
few splendid exceptions, e ne TO their
graves, and-it behoyes agenerous postentv,
sensible OF their obligations, to preserve
their fame. The longer we neglect the
payment of so sacred debt, the more ditil-
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
1t is not the object OF the present attempt,
TO deal in thai proiusion Of indiscriminatc
and unsparing pancgyric, so often and so
falsely digniled with the name of Biogra-
ply: we wish to represent the characters
| as they were they stand in need OF TO pa
negyric and we earnestly solicit from the
surviving relations and friends of those re-
yolu!ionary patriots all the information thai
will tend 10 Development OF character.
Man is the creature OF circumstance, and
.h,,,, tp., NJ
| triots from their first resistance OF colonial
aggression, until they stood forth The noble
! and undaunted champions OF their country;
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 ia their possession to unfold
and illustrate their characters, shall be Ell
titled to copy of the work as recon-
pense. 1t is contemplated, wherever it is
practicable, further TO embellish 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
they will transmit 10 the publisher any en-
craving or portrait from which a copy may
| be taken. the original shall be faithfully re-
turned, and shall likewise be remulefatrvS
| with copy of the work. In the first NUM-
Der it is proposed to give an arouDt Of Inc
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 lndepen-
| dence itself, with fac-simile engravings OF
the signatures. We have now compendi-
ously stated the objects of our present un-
deraking, and we hope that il will be I'M
, 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 to be de-
handed, by the ayidity sorecently display
ed for the possession OF the Declaration OF
Independence, since it is of very little I'M
port to- become acquainted with a mans
hand writing without sprevDrs knowiedge
of the man. The secret history Ct our De-
claration OF independence, the lives oil those
who have affixed their signatures to thatin-
! strument, accompanied by their Licensees,
t 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.
|. 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 pc
half volume or number, payable on deii'-
cry.
JSubscriptions will be received at the
Office OF the Alexandria Gazette.
December 90
! EnUipeer Denartmont.