Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-25
By PAUL ALLEN, ESQ.
TO THE PUBLIC.

I seems llttle surprising that amongst
4 so many subjects as have been present.
ed for American Biography. the lives of
those who have affixed their signatures TO
the Declaration of independence have been
overlooked or disrcgarded. The eyes Of
thousands have dwelt with rapture upon the
document that announced to the world that
these United Colonies were, and of right
ought 10 be, free, sovereign, and indepen-
dent stltes;" while we are better acquant-
ed with the handwriting than with the cha
racters of many OF those ilustrious men
who have added their signatures to that IN
strument. The founders of the only re-
naming republic en- the globe, have, with
few splendid exceptions, gone to their
graves, and il belioves generous posterity,
sensible of their obligations, to preserve
their fame. The longer we neglect the
payment 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
1t is not the object OF the present attempt,
TO deal in that profusion Of indiscriminate
and unsparing panegyric, SO often and 50
falsely digniGed with the name OF Biogra-
ply: we wish to represent the characters
as they were they stand in need of no pa
negyric and we earnestly solicit from the
surviving relations and friends of those re-
evolutionary patriots all the information thai
will tend TO development of character.
Man is the creature of circumstance. and
we wish To 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 countrys
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 untold
and illustrate their characters, shall be en-
titled to copy of the work as a recon-
pense. 1t is contemplated, wherever II is
practicable, further to embelIish 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. n
they will transmit to the publisher any en-
craving or portrait from which copy mag
be taken, the original shall be faithfully re-
turned, and shall likewise be remunerated
with copy of the work. In the first num-
Der it is proposed to give an account of the
Declaration of Independence, from the fnt
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 odr
last number the Declaration of lndepen:.
dence itself, with fac-simile engravings oil
the signatures. We have now compendi-
ously stated the objects Of our present UNI.
dertaking, and we hope that it will be VI.
necessary to mention that no exertions or
our part shall be spared.
The public are now in possession OF our
project, which does indeed seem TO be de-
handed, by the avidity so recently display.
ed for the possession Of the Declaration Of
Independence, since it is of very little i'm
port to become acquainted with mans
hand writing without previous knowledge
Of the man. The secret history OF our De.
clarstion Of Independence, the lives oftbose
who have affixed their signatures to tbatin-
strvnenl, accompanied BY their Iikenesses,
and finally the Declaration itself with fac.
smiles Of the signatures, will bring into ono
compact view the prominent facts Of that
interesting crisis.
CONDITIONS.
[. The work will be published in num-
bors, or half volumes, Of $50 pages octave,
aud 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 anc 6hy cents per
half volume or number, payable on dehT-
cry. -,
HrSubscriptions will be received al The
office OF the AlexasdHa Gazstse.