Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-08
By JOHN .S.qNDERSO.N,
TO THE PUBLIC.

- III FUBLlE.
When we consider the personal ouaIi.;o,
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed 10
the Declaration of independence. the nsr;.
lous occasion which demanded the exertiOn
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and Tho
influence o! their councils on the interests Of
mankind. we mast acknowledge tina, yerv
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered TO the world, and we shall seek n
vain ia the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration. and ofbeins
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. Th. love of inJepen.
dence is interviewer with the frame and con-
stitution ofthe human mind. II is almost
the tlrst sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none bat
aWased into activity greater exertion of th,
virtuous energies Of his nature, none has es
cited greater warmth of generation. an
has more imperious claims upon our graf
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and poltla
aggression.
In al republican states the FIRST tribute d
genius has been paid TO the patriot CT the be,
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty an!
maintained the independence and dignilyG
man. The animated canvas and breahng
marble have rescced bis features from d.
grasp of death, and tie pen OF the histcraa
has Inscribed the achievements TO the inps,
rishable records OF fame. Il would indeed
be no tayorlble pEognostic Of The perpetully
Of our republican institutions 10 discovers
insensiblity to the obligations we owe Ii,
memory Of the illustrioGs patrons OF America
freedom. They have raised US, by her
nagnanimity, from the arbitrary domniono
foreign power, to the distinguished eleyatia
OF sovereign and independent people tier
have asserted and maintained the imprescup
tio!e rights Of humanity by the ''nlutus
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, their for
tunes and their sacred donors !" and, as LON
as virtue holds her empire in The hearts d
their successors, the example of these gene
gous benefactors will not be lost 10 the word
their names will rot pass away nor be forget
ten, or their glorious deeds be confounded il
tie common aad casual transaction Of life =
lngratitude is vice that in Nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates tie last degree O.
degeneracy and corruption (; il is a vice tba
implies the absence of every virtue il Wa
in the age Of Caliguis that the name OF tLe
SCipioS was prescribed, that the stale d
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
The glory Of our ancestors is the ligbtO
posterily," and tie homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits OF The iustrioH
dead with an efectuai or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men wEo have hum Die or Crd'
nary objects in prospect. /! is BY ccnlfnpa'
ting the life and character OF those whos
marked out from the multitude by their fm.
nent qualities, that we become enuIow d
their virtues and their renown The tropics
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps of ITEMS
tocles; and 1'heseus, hearing the exploil.d
Hercules, was fred with lis spirit, and b.
came the successful rival of bis fame. Tie
rude savage OF The desert listens with raptuE
to the deeds Of his ancestors, and hangs =
round his hut the epbleas ofhis (athersH'
iour.
More need not &c sai! TO enforce the udII
o! the publication we lave undertaken, Az
which ws now submit TO tie PATRONAGE OicG
fellow citizens. with a hope, HAT from TX
liberality OF their encouragement, we :ba.
be able 10 present it 10 the public woIihyG
their appreciation. We must depend for E
illustration OF many ct the characters CT OF
biography, upon The generosity OF ;helrsur
vising relatives and friends, TO furnish Us VIE
whatever materials may be in thG
possession for which, with cur grateful a.
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF w
entire " orS as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be publiihed in nunbeF;f
half volumes Of goo pages, octave, %.
contained in ten numbers. To The BIZ
will be prefXed an appropriate troniE
piece-and the work viii be commtDtteSS
with the declaration of independence, VII
engraved fac SMILES ofthe signatures aDv
sompendious detail of the proceedings"
congress, during the passage Of Tie RN
Each OF the lives, unless when il IS ~
practicable, will be preceded by ire
ness OF the person, engraved by The w
artists in tie United Stctes.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, mss
expressly for the purpose, and delI'e ''n
to subscribers al t,ro dollars and GJtyfe"
pernumbeE, payable on de|iTery r..
~ subscriptions re ceived at thiS oHI..'