Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-02-01
By PAUL ALLEN, ESQ.
TO THE PUBLIC.


1T seems a lsttle surprising that amongs..
Z 50 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 ewes of
thousands have dwelt with rapiure upca the
document that announced to the world that
these United Colonies were, and of right
ought TO be, free, sovereign, and indepen-
dent states;' while we are better acausint-
ed with the handwriting than with the cha
racters of many of those illustrious men
who have added their signatures to that M
strument. The founders OF The only re-
naming republic on the globe. have, it'll
few splendid exceptions, gone TO their
graves, and it behoves 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,
10 deal in that profusion OF indiscriminate
and unsparlng panegyPic, 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 tina:
will tend to deyelopemcnt of character.
sc fha IS
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 Counlry's
independence. All this can only be done
by 4 familiar acquaintance with The lives Of
these men, and whoever Of the surviving
friends or relatives will furnish facts End
circumstances IL their possession 10 unfold
and illustrate their characters, shall be en-.
titled to a copy of the work as recon.
pense. 1t is contemplated, wherever il i;
practicable, further to embellish the medi-
tated work with correct licensees 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 friend.. Ii
they will transmit TO the publisher any en-
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 it is proposed to give an account OF the
Declaration Of Independence, from the first
motiolsthat 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 IN
dertaking, and we hope that it will be IN
necessary to mention that no exerticas on
our part shall be spared.
The public are now. in posse ssion of our
project, which does indeed seem 10 be de-
handed, by the avidi,y so recently display
ed for the possession Of the Declaration OF
Independence, since il 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, fbe lives Of those
who have affixed their signatures to thatin.
strument, accompanied by their likenesse.,
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.
IL. 1t will be printed on fine paper mace
expressly for the purpose, and delivered %
subscribers at two dollars and fifty cents per
half volume or number, payable on dells-
cry.
JSubscriptions will be received atthe
Office OF the Alexandria Gazette.