Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-22
By JOHN ,S.4.NDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBLIC

~ L TIE fODLiC.
When we consider the personal ou,l;
OF the statesmen whose names are atSyode s
the Declaration of independence. fine NJ.
lous occasion which demanded the eY. rt,r
OF their wisdom and deiberation anal
influence OF their councils on the intereu,
mankind, we must acknowledge tha. ysr
rarely more imposing spectacle has bss,
offered TO the world, and We shall seek !,
vain in the annals of nations, for an ever,
more worthy OF commemorative. and ofbeE,
cherished forever in the hearts of or,ts5f
aud generous people. TIL. love Of inJeps,
dence is interviewer with the, frame aDdron
stitution of the human mind. Ii is almns
the hrst sentiment that anlmates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all m
actions and enterprises Of man, none h.,
awaked into activity greater exertion ofN, +
virluous energies of his nature, none has q.
cited greater warmth of veneration, AMI
has more imperieus claims upon our er,.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and polite
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid to the patriot OF the be.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity Of
man. TIE animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued bis features from lie
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements to The inpe
rishable records OF fame. Ii would INDEED
be no favor bile prognoslic of the perpeuty
of our republican institutions to discoyaal
insensibility TO the obligations we owe lie
memory OF he illuStrioJs patrons OF America
freedom. They have raised US, by asi
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominiOlO
toreignpower, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people tbey
have asserted and maintained the impresclp.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge Of their lives, tbeuO.
tunes and their sacred honors !" and, asbng
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
their successors, the example of these gene.
rous benetactors will not be lost to The word;
their names will not pass away nor be forget.
ten, or their glorious deeds be conioundedh
the common and casuai transaction Of life =
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption il 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 broug BIT death on its possessor.
8 The glory of our ancestors is the llghto
posterity," and the homage Of the living can
not be offered to the merits OF the illustruu
dead with an efectual or sterile admlratlCn
Great and splendid actions will seldom ;:
achieved by men who have hum Die or clGF
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempt
ting the life and character OF those WbOa'
marked out from the multitude BY their eni
nent qualities, that we become emuIou;, o
their virtues and their re wn. The hcPha
of hliltiades interrupted the sleepsct lbenf,
tocles and Theseus, hearing the explo'E;"
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and rFs
came the successful rival of his fame. ~
rude savage OF the desert listens with raPWf
to the deeds of his ancestors, ard hangs d
round his hut the emblems ofhis tatherS"'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utlIy
of the publication we have undertaken, al!
which we now submit to the patronage LOU
fellow citizens. with a hope, that from "
liberality of their encouragement, we aa
be able TO present il to the public worthy "
their appreciation. We must depend ter
illustration Of many Of the cbaracter; o. ~
biography, upon the generosity OF ;heHS
viving relatives and friends, to furnish usS.
whateverlnteresting materialsmay be ID iDu
possession for which, with our grateful u
acknowledgements, we promise copy o. "
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS. i
I. The work will be publiihed in nun6ehgp
half volumes of 200 pages, octave a. o.
contained in ten numbers. TO the
will be prehxed an appropriate irolr
piece-and the work will be conIHtR
with the declaration of Independently W.
engraved fac SMILES Of the signatures, ~
a cempendious detail of the roceedlpg..s
congress. during the passage OF TIE IN =,
Each OF the lives, unless when 1t Is IT,. S
practicable, will be preceded by W y.
ness of the person, engraved by 'ne
artists in the United States. ..G|
ii. 1t will be printed on tine paper; : nS
expressly for the purpose, and de d .,.y
to subscribers at tuo dollars and Wy"
number, payable on delivery .s,,
*x* Subscriptions received at this oAtt
October 10