Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-12-24
By JOHN Si.NDERSOf.
TO THE pITRJTC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal or,I,,.
OF the statesmen whose names are atfysd ~
the Declaration Of independence. the ns,;,
lous occasion which demanded the ey,r,ion
OF their wisdom and. deIiberaton. and tho
influence OF their councils on the inrere,ls q,
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, ysrv
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek in
vain IN the annals OF nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoratiun, and OF beino
cherished forever in The hearts of gra,e;I
and generous people. The love Of in,Iepen.
dence is interviewer with the frame and CON.
stitutIon OF the human mind. Ii is amos
the hrst sentiment that anImates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all lb.
actions and enterprises of man, none Ia,
awaked into activity greater exerlion Of III.
vlrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of veneratiop, and
has more imperious claims upon our rrat.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and pohlca!
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Ct
genius has been paid 10 the patriot or the he.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity Of
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from The
grasp OF death, aud the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements 10 The impe.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor ibe prognostic of lbe perpetuily
OF our republican institutions 10 discover 40
insensibiIity to the obligations we owe the
memory OF the ilustriOLs patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
magnanimity, IRON the arbitrary dominion of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip-
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred honors - and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts OF
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benefsctors will not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED in
The common and casual transaction of lie
lngraltude is vice that in nations, as we'd
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption it is a vice thai
implies the absence Of every virtue il was
in the age of Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brulus broug bt death on lis poSsessOr.
The glory of our ancestors is the light Of
posteri:y," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits OF the ilu,,riogs
dead with an effectua or sterile sdmrat'cn.
Great and splendid actions will seldom lie
achieved by men who have humid or ordl.
nary objects in prospect. 1t is b. conicnpIa.
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf.
nent qualities, that we become emulous oi
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Nliltiades interrupted the sleeps of Thtmis
iocleS and Theseus, hearing the exploit. OF
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame. The
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
10 the deeds of his ancestors, and hang. a.
round his but the embiems of bis fathers va
lOur.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
Of the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit 10 the patronage Of our
fellow citizens. with a hope, that from the
liberaity of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it TO the public worthy d
their appreciation. We must depend for The
illustration OF many OF the characters OF our
biography, upon the generosity Of their sur
vlving relatives and friends, to furnish u, with
whatever interesting materials may be in ,hel'
possession for which, with our grateful &C,
acknowledgements, We promise a copy Of the
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbers o:
hall, volumes of 200 pages, octave, and
contained in ten numbers. To The brss
will be pre6xed an appropriate fronts.
pisee-and the work will be- commenced
with the declsIation of independence, with
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, and
a compendiou; detail OF the proceedings OF
congress, during the passage OF The law
Each Of the lives. unless when it is in
practicable, will be preceded by like.
ness Of the person, engraved by the bes!
artists in the United States.
II. II will be printed on fine paper, mace
expressly for the purpose, and delivered
to subscribers al tTo dollars and ffty cents
per number, payable on delivery.
- Subscriptions received at this oftl &C.