Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-25
By JOHN S.4.NDERSOyN,
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal quaIit;o,
OF the statesmen whose names are sdiyed -
the Declaration of independence, the peT,
lous occasion which demanded the eyer,on
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and II.
influence OF their councils on the Interests NJ
mankind, we must acknowledge that yerv
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall spek IN
vain In the annals OF nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbeng
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of inJepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
stitutlon OF the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all tbe
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWaHed into activity greater exertion of the
Vlrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of veneratioD. and
has more mperlous claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he.
no 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, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements 10 the npe-
rishabe records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor BILE prognostic of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility TO the obligations we owe The
memory OF the lllustrIoLs 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 impresCrip.
tioIe 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 benefactors will not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedm
The common and casual transaction Of life
ingratitude is a vice that in nations, as wei
az individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption il is vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue il was
in the age OF Caligula that the name OF the
Scpios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
" The glory of our ancestors is the lighto!
posterity," and the homage Of the living can
not be offered TO the merits OF the ilustroui
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble or Ordl'
nary objects in prospect. II is by contempa'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by Their emI::
nent qualities, that we become emulous o.
their virtues and their renown. 1hetrophles
of Miltades interrupted the sleeps OF lbemlS;.
tocIes and Theseus, hearing the exploits Q!
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame. The
rude savage OF The desert listens with rapture
TO the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the embIems ofhis fathers va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
cf the publication we have undertaken, ana
which we now submit to the patronage OF ouF
fellow citizens. with hope, that from lhs
liberality of their encouragement, we ShaI
be able to present it to the public worthy u
their appreciation. We must depend for the
Illustration OF many of the characters OF ou'
biography, upon the generosity OF their SUI,
wing relatives and friends, to furnish Us WhD
whatever interesting materialsmay be N Ineh
for which, with our grateful a.
knowled gments, we promise copy Oh W.
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
I. The work will be publiihed in numbers
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, e,
contained in ten numbers. To The d."
will be pre6xed an appropriate iToHuEE
piece-and the work viii be commenc!tSS
with the declaration of independence, wiz
engraved fae SMILES of the signatures, a'O
compendious detail Of the proceedlnSs~s
congress, during the passage OF the ieS'
Each OF the lives, snless when it is ID, I'D
practicable, will be preceded by inv,
ness of the person, engraved by The Des'
artists in the United States. J..
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, mauCJ
expressly for the purpose, and del''elrs
to subscribers at tao dollars GndJyfycf""
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this omee'
Dctohor ~ |!