Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-19
By PAUL ALLEN, ESQ.
TO THE PUBLIC.

/ seems little surprising that amongst
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 dweit 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;" while we are better acquant.
ed with the handwriting than with ihe cha.
racters of many OF those illusridus men
who have added their signatures to that N.
sirument. The founders of the only re-.
manning republic en- the globe. have, with
few splendid exceptions, gone to their
graves, and il 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 trey are not snatched By
the hand of the Geographic Muse. atsn ear.
~ season, from the COLI! grasp of death, will
soon partake of the Oblivion of the body
1t is not tire object OF the present ATTEMPT,
10 deal in that profusion of indiscriminate
and unsparing panegyric, so often md 50
falsely dignifed with the name of Biogra-
ply: we wish to represent the characters
as they were they stand in need OF no pa.
neg!ric; 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, ans
we wish to show the progress of those pa.
triots from their first resistance of colonial
aggression, until they stood forth the noble
AMI undauned champions Of their country's
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 10 unfold
and illustrate their characters, shall be en-.
titled to copy of the work as a recon.
pense. 1t is contemplated, wherever il IS
practicable, further to enbelIsL the medi.
tated work with correct likenesses of the
subjects Of our biography, executed by the
most eminent artists in The country. FG
this purpose we again solicit the assistance
OF their surviving relatives and friends. 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 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
Rod embracing much curious and secre.
history: finally, we promise to add to OUT
last number the Declaration of Indepen.
dence itself, with fac-simile engravines CT :
the signatures. We have now compendi.
ousiy stated the objects of our present un. !
dertaking, and we hope that it will be w.
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 lie de-
handed, by the avidity so recently display.
ed for the possession Of the Declaration oil
Independence, since il is Of very little inn
port to become acquainted with a mans
hand writing without previous knowledge
OF the man. The secret history OF our De-
claration OF independence, the lives oftEose
who have affixed their signatures to tbatin.
strumenl, accompanied by their Iikenesses,
and finally the Declaration itself with tac'
SMILES of the signatures, will bring into one
compact view the prominent facts Of that
interesting crisis.
CONDITIONS.
l. The work will be published in num-
bers, or half volumes, Of $50 pages octave,
and will be contained in ten numbers.
IEH will be printed on fine paper made
expressly for the purpose, and delivered 10
at two dollars and fifty centsPer
half volume or number, payable on dell''
cry. -
D1Subscriptions will be received atthe
Office OF the Alexandra Gazette.
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