Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-12-21
BIZ JOHN S.4NDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBIC.

~ liz L DIN.
When we consider the personal oualitie,
of the statesmen v lose names are atiixed 10
the Declaration Of Independence. the ptr.
lous occasion which demanded the OK, r,OD
OF their wisdom and deliberaton. and the
influence OF their councils on the interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
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 commemoratlon, and OF Icing
cherished forever in The hearts of a grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
stitution Of the human mind II is aImo,
the first sentiment that anImates the infant,
features in the cradle ; and amongst all the
actions and enterprises Of man, none Ia,
awaked into activity greater exertion Of The
vlrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ey
cited greater warmth Of veneraton, and
has more imperious claims upon our graz.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute O.
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he.
70 who has promoted The cause of liberty and
I'd aintained the independence and dignity Of
marble have rescued his features from the
grasp OF death, and the pen Of the historian
has inscribed the achievements 10 the impe.
rishable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
be no favor tble prognostic Of The perpetuy
of our republican institutions TO discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory of the illustriOus patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised us, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and Independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrp-
tiole rights Of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge Of their lives, theirior-
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 benefactors 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 life
Ingratitudc is a vice that in nations, as wei!
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption il is a vice that
implies the absence Of every virtue il was
in the age of Caigula that the name OF The
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
The glory OF our ancestors is the light Of
posterity," and the homage of thu ivire Cam
not be offered to the merits OF the iu,rro&
dead with an efec,ual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom he
achieved by men who have hum Die or ordI-
nary objects in prospect. /! is b, confeDpa'
ting the life and character OF those who IRE
marked out from the multitude by then emf.
nent qualities, that we become emucus Of
their virtues and their re nown. I he trophies
of Milliades interrupted the sleeps of hemIs-.
tocIes and Theseus, hearing the exploits Oh
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, asd be"
came the successful rival of his fame. The
rude savage OF The desert listens with rapture
to he deeds of his ancestors. and bangs a.
roun his hut the emblems of his fsther'sya-
IOur.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
Of the publication we have undertaken, ana
which we now submit to the patronage o!ou'
fellow. citizens. with hope, that from lhs
IiberaIify of their encouragement, we sha,.
be able to present it TO the public worthy d
their app rotation. We must depend tor the
illustration OF many of the characters OF ou;
biography, upon The generosity OF their sur I,
WING TelatIEeS dhu HlcHus, W luTUlsD us V'n'
whatever inte resting materials may he in their
possession for which, with our grateful 40
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF the
entire YORK as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in nunbeno'
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, snt
contained in ten numbers. To the hIss
will be prefxed an appropriate fronts,
piece-and the work will b. commenced
with the declaration of independence, with
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, and
a compendious detail of the proceedings OF
congress, during the passage OF the law
Each OF the lives, unless when it is i'm
practicable, will be preceded by like,
ness Of the person, engraved by the bes'
ARTISTS in the United States.
II. 4 will be printed on fine paper, mace
expressly for the purpose. and delivered
to subscribers 81 tao dollar, and GftyeerS
per number, payable on delivery.
C,bo,riDt:ops &c iVel AZ this OIL &c,