Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-15
By JOHN S.4.NDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBLIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal op,I,;.s
of the statesmen whose names are sfiyed IN
the Declaration OF independence. the peri.
lous occasion which demanded the exertvYp
OF their wisdom and deliberation. 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 The love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the, frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. Ii is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWaked into activity greater eXertion OF the
vlrtuous energies Of his nature, none has ex-
cited a greater warmth of yeneratOn. 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.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from The
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements TO the impc.
rishable records oil fame. Ii would indeed
be no favor bic prognostic Of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover 40
insensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory OF the illuslrious patrons OF American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanmity, from the arbitrary dominionOt
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the impresCrlp.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge Of their pledge OF their lives, theIriOr-
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts OF
their successors, the example OF these gene.
rous henefactors will not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be commonwealth
The common and casual transaction OF lite -
Ingratitude is vice that in nations, as we'd
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption it is vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue it was
in the age OF CaliguIa 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 Iigho
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits OF the AIustrIOu8
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or oTdl'
nary objects in prospect. Il is BY conlemPIa.
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their eml::
nent qualities, that we become emuIouS Of
their virtues and their renown. The uoPhies
of Mitiades interrupted the sleeps Of hemISI.
toCles and Theseus, hearing the exploits o.
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival OF his fame. Inc
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds Of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the embIems of his fathers va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utllIy
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit to the patronage Of on
fellow citizens, with hope, that from '%
liberality of their encouragement, we sn'I
be able TO present it to the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend tor lux
illustration OF many of the characters OF Q"
biography, upon The generosity OF ;heT SUI
vIving relatives and friends, TO furnish US W.T..
whatever interesting materials may he IN Insh
possession for which, with our gralelu. az a.
knowled gments, we promise copy o. W
entire W ork as Compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be publiiked in nunbeFJ5
half volumes of 200 pages, octave i,s
contained in ten numbers. TO the W..
will be prefxed an appropriate lronri
piece-and the work will be commen.;st
with the declaration of independence f 'Dj
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures s;
compendiou. detail of the proceetdIngsv~
congress, during the passage OF the $ IN,
Each OF the lives, unless when II IS ,;E E
practicable, will be preceded by ' h.s,
ness oftbe person, engraved by Inc
artists in the United States. A.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, mn" Ssd
expressly for the purpose, and d Hd,,e,at,
to subscribers at tao dollars and Effye'"'
pernumber, payable on delivery a,.
~ Subscriptions received at this onts