Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-04-29
By JOHN S4yNDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

III HE fUBLlC.
When we consider the personal oua6ts,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed I
the Declaration of independence. the DEN
lous occasion which demanded The exertm
OF their wisdom and delberation, and n,
influence of their councils on the Interests d
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, yer
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek n
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofhehg
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of indepep.
dence is interviewer with the.frame andcop
stitution ofthe human mind. Ii is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all Ii.
actions and enterprises of man, none ha
awaked into activity greater exerton ofths
virtuous energies of his nature, none has eI
cited greater warmth of veneration, and
has more imperious claims upon our graft.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and pCalcal
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid to the patriot or thehe.
TO who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dgnityd
IAN. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued 4is features from ibe
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements TO the impe
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor .ble prognostic of the perpetuy
OF our republican institutions to disCoyeIal
insensibility TO the obligations we owe The
memory ofthe ilIustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by tbeI
magnanimity, from the arbitrary doninonO Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the impre5crip
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge of their pledge of their lives, then lOI'
tunes and their sacred honors - and aslOHg
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 confoundedln
the common and casual transaction Of life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption il is vice thai
implies the absence of every Virtue it was
in the age of Caligula that the name OF ths:
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death or its posSessor.
. The glory of our ancestors is the llghlol
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the llustrols
dead with an efectuai or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have huns Die or ORR
nary objects in prospect. |! is b. conlenpla'
ting the life and character OF those who ars
marked out from the multitude by their enl..
nent qualities, that we become emulou;; o.
their virtues and their renown The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps of J henk.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the expoIl:@
Hercules, was fired with bis spirit, AID BE-
came the successful rival OF his fame. lns
rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs d:
round his hut the embems of his father'sVa va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, ana
which we now submit to the patronage OF oM
fellow citizens. with hope, that from lp sI
liberality of their encouragement, we shali
be able to present it to the public worthy d
their appreciation. We must depend tor lns
illustration of many of the characters OF oul
biography, upon the generosity Of their SUI! !,h
wing relatives and friends, to furnish US Wltp
whateverln interesting materials may be in theh
possession for which, with our grateful az .
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF ll'
entire W rk as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbers u j
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, anu anu
contained in ten numbers. To the lis'
will be prefxed an appropriate froD'lsiI
piece--and the work viii be commence
with the declaration of independence, WIN
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, anu
compendious detail Of the proceedings -
congress, during the passage OF the ls az,
Each OF the lives, unless when il is 81, ,pi,
practicable, will be preceded by NE NE,
ness of the person, engraved by the pe''
artists in the United States. J..
Ii. 1t will be printed on fine paper, na u.d
expressly for the purpose, and delVel .,,
to subscribers at tago dollars and TRY ee'''
pernumber, payable on delivery c.
~ Subscriptions received at thus ONCE
0ctobar 10 II