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

L seems little surprising that amongst
so many subjects rs have been present.
ed for American Biography, the lives Of
those who have affixed their signatures 70
the Declaration of independence have been
overlooked or disregarded. The ewes Of
thousands have dwelt with rapture upon the
document thai announced to the world that
" these United Colonies were, and of right
ought TO be, free, sovereign, and indepep.
dent st4teS;" while we are better acauaiut.
ed with the handwriting than with the cha
racters of many of those illustrious men
who have added their signatures to that IN.
strument. The founders of the only re-.
naming republic on the globe, have, with
a few splendid exceptions, gone TO their
graves, and il behoyes generous posterity.
sensible of their obligations, to preserve
their fame: The longer we neglect the
payment of so sacred debt, tie more diff.
cult does the payment become. Traits of
individual character are fugitive and eva
nescent; and If they are not S.atched by
the hand of the Geographic Muse, at an ear
iy season, from the cold grasp of death, will
soon partake of the oblivion of the bod w.
1t is not tie object OF the present ATTEMPT.
TO deal in thai profusion Of indiscriminate
and unsparing pdnegyric, so often and so
false y disnihed with The name of Biogra-
ply: we wish to represent the characteR
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 to show the progress of those pa
,trots 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
by a 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 untold
and illustrate their characters, shall he en-
titled to copy of the work as a recon-
pense. 1t is contemplated, wherever it is
practicable, further TO embellish the medi.
tated work with correct likenesscs 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. Il
they will transmit to 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 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 first
motion that was made on the floor Of con-
gress until its final passage into law, pc
riod 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 ct
the signatures. We have now compendi'
ously stated the objects of our present un.
dertaking, and we hope that il will be Gn'
necessary 10 mention tina. no exertions on
our part shall be spared.
The public arc now in possession OF our
project, which does indeed seem 10 he de-
handed, by the avidily 30 recently display.
ed for the possession Of the Declaration o!
independence, since il is of very little In'
port to become acquainted with mans
hand writing without previous knowledge
Of the man The secre; history OF our De-
charlton OF independence, the lives of those
who have affixed their signatures to thatIn'
strumeEt, accompanied by their Iikenesses'
and finally the Declaration itself with lac,
Smiles of the signatures, will bring into one
compact view the prominent facts OF thai
interesting crisis.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be published in NUM-
bers, or half volumes, Of $50 pages octaVc'
and will be contained in fen numbers.
ii. 1t will be printed on fine paper mace
expressly for the purpose, and delivered 70
subscribers at two dollars and fifty cents Per
half volume or number, payable on delF'
cry. ,h.
1rSubscriptions will be received athe
office of the Alexandria Gazette.