Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-01-05
By PAUL ALLES, ESD
re THE PUBLIC.

z T seems little surprising that amongst
! so many subjects as have been present.
Ell for Anerican Biography, the lives Of
those who Rave Affixed their signatures to
t,iaDeclaration0 f Independence have been
overlooked or disregardea. 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 to be, free, sovereign, and indepen-
dent states;e while we are betteracquaint-
Cd with the handwriting than with the cha
racters of many of those ililstrious men
who have added their signatures to that in
strument. Ifhe founders of tie only re-
naming republic en- the globe, have, with
a few splendid exceptions, gone to their
graves, and it believes generous posterity,
-nsible of their obligations, to preserve
tleir fame. The longer we neglect the
payment Of so sacred debt, the more diff.
cult does the payment become. Trails of
Individual character are fugitive and eva
rescent; and if they are not snatched by
the hand of the Geographic Muse, at an ear
ly season, from the coldgrasp of death, will
soon partake of the oblivion of the body
It is not the object of the present attempt,
10 deal in that proiusion of indiscriminate
and unsparing panegyric, SO often and so
falsely dignifed 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 that
will tend to development of character.
Man is the creature of circumstance, and
we wish 10 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 country's
independence. All this can only be done
Ly a familiar acquaintance with the lives Of
these men, and whoever Of the surviving
friends or relatives will furnish facts and
circumstances il their possession TO unfold
and illustrate their characters, shall be en-
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. If
they will transmit to the publisher any en-
craving or portrait from which copy may
he taken, the original shall be faithfully re-
turned, and shall likewise be remunerated
with copy of the work. In the first num-
her it 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, 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 engravings Of
the signatures. We have now compendi-
ously stated the objects Of our present un-
dertaking, 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 avidity sorecently display
ed for the possession Of the Declaration Of
independence, since it is Of very little i'm
port to become acquainted with mans
band writing without previous knowledge
Of the man. The secret history OF our De-
claration OF Independence, the lives of those
who fave affixed their signatures to thatin-
strnment, 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
interesting crisis:
] CONDITIONS.
I. The work will be published in num- +
bers, or half volumes, of so pages octave,
and will be contained in ten numbers.
IL. 1t will be printed on fine pspermade
expressly for the purpose, and delivered to
subscribers at two dollars and fifty cents per
half volume or number, payable on deliy-
cry. 3 &
lleTSubscriptions will be received atthe
Office Of the Alexandra Gazette.
Decembef29
Engineer Department,
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