Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-29
BIZ JOHN S.4NDERSOyN.
TO THE, PJJRJIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal oualte,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed 10
the Declaration of independence. the peri.
ious occasion which demanded the exertion
OF their wisdom and deliberations and the
influence OF their councils on the interests OF
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. 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 commemoration, and OF being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. Th. love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaEed into activity greater exertion Of the
vlrtuouS energies OF his nature, none has ey.
cited a greater warmth of veneration, and
has more imperious 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
TO who has promoted the cause Of liberty and
| maintained the independence and dignity o!
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued bis features from the
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 ible prognostic of The perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
nsensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory OF The il|ustroLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a 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 o!
their successors, the example of these gene.
rous benefactoTs will not be lost to the " ord:
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedin
the common and casual transaction of life -
lngratltude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
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
Brutus brought death on its possessor
The glory OF our ancestors is the ighto Of
posterity," and the homage of the iviie can.
not be offered to the merits of the IIustriou3
dead with an eHeclual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom DO
achieved by men WHO have hum Die or oldi.
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by coniempa.
ting the life and character of those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf.
nent qualities, that we become cmulous O!
fh<Ic q Irf,,n II tIn.p Z l..
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF Ibens
tocles and Thesens, hearing the explotsO
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of his fame. Tba
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapUp
to the deeds of his ancestors. and hang. a.
round his hut the embems ofhis fatbersw.
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, and
which We now submit to the patronage ofour
fellow citizens. with hope, that from the
iberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it to the public worthy Of
their appreciation. We must depend for The
illustration OF many of the characters of our
biography, upon the generosity of their sur
ylving relatives and friends, to furnish us with
whateverlnteresting materials may be in theH
possession 1GT winch, with our grateful ae
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF the
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubiihed in nunberCI
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, snd
contained in ten numbers. To the bn!
will be prefXed an appropriate fronts,
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, win
engraved fac SMILES the Signatures and
compendiou, detail of the proceedngsoi
congress, during the passage OF the law
Each OF the lives, unless when il is I'M
practicable, will be preceded by like,
ness of the person, engraved by the bes
artists in the UnitedStat
II. 1t will be printed On fine paper. mace
expressly for the purpose, and deliveTe.ai
to subscribers at tao dollars and t}tyet'e
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions re csived atthis Once
Octnber ~ II