Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-09
By JOHN &4NDERSON.
TO THE PURIIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal qualities
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed 10
the Declaration OF Independence, the peri.
lous occasion which demanded the exertion
OF their wisdom and deiiberation. and The
influence OF their councils on the interests of
mankind, we must acknowledge thai very
rarely a more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek in
vain III the annals OF nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and of being
cherished forever in the hearts of a grateful
aud generous people. Tb. love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
s%tltutIon OF the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that animaies the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaEed into activity a greater ~exertion Of the
virtuous energies of his nature, none has ex.
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 10 the patriot or the he
70 who has promoted The cause OF Liberty and
maintained Tie independence and dignity Of
u - ~ it'uk Z oId NIX
| marble have rescued lis features from The
| grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements to the inpe-
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bic ~prognostic of the perpetuity
of our republican institutions to discover an
inssnsibility to the obligations we owe tie
memory Of The iI!ustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnaninity, from the arbitrary dominion of
a 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, thelrfo for.
tunes and their sa cred honors )" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
their successors, the example of these gene.
rous beuetactors will not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedin
the common and casual transaction OF life
iugratitude is a vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
de2eneraCy and corruption /; il is a vice thai
implies the absence Of every virtue it was
in the age OF Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the stale Of
Drutus brought death on its possessor.
hC " y vi Out dDSCSlpiS Is iii lIHU Ill VI
| posterity," and the homage of theliyile can.
not be offered to the merits OF the iIIustrious
dead with an ~effectual or sterile admiration.
Great ant~plendid actions will seldom lie
achieved by men WHO have humble or oldi.
nary objects in prospect. Ii Sd, coniempla.
ting the life and character OF those " he ere
marked out from the multitude ty then emf.
nent qualities, that we become eIuIous Il
their virtues and their lketrophieg
Of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of Themi:.
tocles and Tkeseus, hearing the exploits Of
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival Of his fare. Tie
ruGe savage OF The desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and bangs a.
round his hut the emblems ofhis iathfr'su
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
OF the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit tQtbe patronage ofour
tellow-citizens. with a hope, that from the
liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it to the public WORTHY Of
their appreciation. We must depend for toe
illustration OF many Of the characters Of Our
biography, upon the generosity of their sur.
vlving relatives and friends, TO furnish US with
whatever interesting materials may be in their
possession lGr which, with our grateful ac'
acknowledgements, we promise a copy Of The
entire work as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbersoE
halt volumes Of geo pages, octave, sDd
contained in ten numbers. 20 the first
will be prefxed an appropriate fronts,
piece-and the work will be commenced
with the declaration of independence, with
engraved fac simiies of tbe signatures, and,
a compendiousd detail OF the proceedingsoi
congress, during the passage OF the Law,
Each OF the lives, unless VIXEN it is in
practicable, will be preceded ty a Ike,
ness of the person, engraved by The bts'
artists in The URited States.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper. MADE
expressly for the purpose, and delivered
to subscribers at tao dollars and triggers
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ subscriptions received at this Office