Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-02
By JOHN S.4NDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal cuslit.,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed
the Declaration of independence. the psT.
lous occasion which demanded the exern,
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and6
influence Of their councils on the Interests a I
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, YER
rarely more imposing spectacle has Bee, /
offered to the world, and we shall seek il
vain in the annals of nations, for an even
more worthy oil commemoraton, and Of BENZ
cherished forever in the hearts of grateIl
and generous people. Tb. love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame andeoD.
stitution of the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infant, /
features in the cradle and amongst all Ii.
actions and enterprises OF man, none has
awaked into activity greater exertionoiAe B
virtuous energies of his nature, none bss ey.
cited a greater warmth of veneraton and (
has more imperious claims upon our grad /
tude, than resistance TO tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid to The patriot or thehe
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and digniyd
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from de
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 lble prognostic of the perpetuiy
of our republican institutions to. discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe tbt
memory of tae illustrious patrons of America
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; tAsy
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
,tioe rights of humanity by the muul
pledge Of their pledge of their lives, theiril
tunes and their sacred honors - and, ssbng
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts o.
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benefactors will not be lost to the wort
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedn
the common and casual transaction OF life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption ii is avIce ttal
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.
I" The glory of our ancestors is the light o.
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the illusirlOas
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or oref
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempt
ting the life and character OF those who afe
marked out from the multitude by their enr
nent qualities, that we become emulou;;
their virtues and their renown. The tIopme
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of fhemf;;
tocles and Theseus, bearing the e1plol'i0'
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and De De-
came the successful rival OF hi fame. lps
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors. and hangs a.
round bis hut the emblems ofhis father's"'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit to the patronage oI%
fellow citizens. with hope, that from lDs
liberality of their encouragement, we sn'I
VIC dUIC " PlCSCut ~ W TIC puUIiS wv,
their appreciation. We must depend tor Toe
Illustration OF many of the characters OF 0a'
biography, upon the generosity of thers!alt.
vIving relatives and friends, to furnish US VIZ. y.
whatever interesting materials may be in lnsh
possession; fer which, with our grateful a.
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF w
entire Work as compensation.
CONDITIONS. :,
/. The work will be publihed in numbeTsg1
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, e epa
contained in ten numbers. TO the u"
will be prefxed an appropriate ircDlS5
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, wiz
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, apul
compendious detail of the proceedlpes~v
congress, during the passage OF the e ~,
Each OF the lives, unless when 1t IS , 'm
practicable, will be preceded by n h'.,
ness of the person, engraved by the pe''
artists ia the United States. y.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, ms uar
expressly for the purpose, and deli'e ..,,
to subscribers at tao dollars ana. tfty es''
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ subscriptions received at tins omse'
October 10 II