Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-12-22
By JOHN S.i.NDERSO.r.
TO THE PUBLIC.

~ LIE PUBLlC.
When we consider the personal oualt;o,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed ia
the Declaration OF Independence. the prr.
lous occasion which demanded the ex, r-icn
OF their wisdom and deiberation. and tho
influence OF their councils on the interests n
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the wchd, and we shall seek il
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemorallon, and of Icing
cherished forever in The hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of indepeD.
dence is interviewer with the frame and con.
stituion Of the human mind 1t is aImO;,
the first sentiment that anmates the infant;
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none h,
awaEed into activity greater exerion of he
virtuous energies OF his nature, none has eI.
cited greater warmth OF veneration. sl
has more imperOus claims upon our graft.
tude. than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states The first tribute O!
genius has been paid TO the patriot or the he,
70 who has promoted The cause OF liberty and
maintasaed She independence and dignity o.
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features ircm The
grasp OF death, aud the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements 10 The impe.
risbable records oil fame 1t would indeed
be no favor lble prognoslic of The perpetuily
OF our republican institutions TO discover "A
insensibIliy to the obligations we owe the
memory ot,the ilIustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimi.y, from the arbitrary dominion OF
a foreign power, TO the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and Independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
tole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, their for.
tunes and their sacred honors :" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts OF
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benefactors will not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED in
The common and casua transaction Of life -
Ingratiude is a vice that in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates The last degree 0!
degeneracy and corruption il is vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue il was
in The age of Caligula that the name OF tie
Scipios was prescribed, that the state o.
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is the light Of
posterity, )" and the homage Of the living Can
not be offered to The merits of the ilIu,TlOu;
dead with an efeclual 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 conrempla'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf:
nent qualities, that We become emulous Of
theirv virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF bel ms
tocles and Thrseus, hearing the exploits OF
Hercules, was fired with lis spirit, and be-
came The successful rival OF his fame. The
rude savage OF The desert listens with rapture
to the deeds Of bis ancestors. and hangs a.
round his hut the embIems OF his fathers va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of The publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage OF OUT
fellow citizens with hope, that from the
Iiberality of their encouragement, we sha4
be able TO present it to the public worthy Q.
their appreciation. We must depend for the
iIidUJ VI VI 49,
biography, upon fhe generosity of their sur
vIving relatives and friends, to furnish US WIN
whatever interesting materials may be in lhel'
possession for which, with our grateful &C.
acknowledgements, We promise copy OF tUf
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubIiihed in numbers 0;
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, ssnc
contained in ten numbers. To the tI''
will be prefxed an appropriate fronts;
piece-and the work will be commenced
with The declaration of independence, win
engraved fac simIes of the signatures, ana
compendous detail OF The proceedings Of
congress, duNng the passage OF the law
Each OF the lives. unless when IT IS I'M
practicable, will be preceded by IKE
ness of the person, engraved ty The pes
artists in the United States.
II. twill be printed on fine paper, mae .i
expressly for the purpose, and delivefs"
to subscribers al tao dollars and JJty ee"''
per number, payable on delivery.
~ Subscriptions received at this OH &C. &c