Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-23
By JOHN &4NDERSON
TO THE PUBLIC.


When we consider the personal op,rs.,
of the statesmen whose names are sfHreS -
the Declaration of independence, the psG
lous occasion which demanded the exertioo
OF their wisdom and deiberation. and ,Is
influence OF their councils on the interests n
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, ye,v
rarely more imposing spectacle has hes,
offered to the world, and we shall seek !,
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoraton, and ofbems
cherished forever in the hearts of eratpi1
and generous people. Th. love of i6deper.
dence is interviewer with the.frame and con,
stitution of the human mind. II is almoa
the first sentiment that animates the infant;
features in the cradle !; and amongst all Tie
actions and enterprises of man, none hs;
awaked into activity greater exertion Of The
virtuous energies of his nature, none has ey.
cited 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 to the patriot or thehe.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignityoi
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 10 The mps
risbable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
be no favorable prognostic of The perpetuily
OF our republican institutions TO disCoyeral
insensibility to the obligations we owe The
memory OF The ilustrioGs patrons of America
freedom. They have raised US, by theI
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dommiOnO
a foreign pow 2r, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescTip.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theirtor.
tunes and their sacred honors :" and, asIng
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benefactors will not be lost to the world
their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be cODfoundedn
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 it is 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 brought death on its possessor.
. The glory of our ancestors is the llgni@
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits of the ilIusirloG
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom Ss
achieved by men WHO have humble or oIGi'
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by conempIi'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their enI,,
nent qualities, that we become emulousS o.
their virtues and their renoWn. The tropDm
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF ] henhl
tocles and Theseus, hearing the explolls;G
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and c. &c,
came the successful rival of his fame. Luz
Tuce savage of the desert listens with raP'uN
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs d
round his hut the embIems Of his father's"
lour. u,-
More need not be said to enforce The ulI'I
of the publication we have undertaken, anu
which we now submit to the patronage OF GU
fellow citizens. with hope, that from W
liberaIty of their encouragement, we snal
be able to present it to the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend Tor 10,
Illustration OF many of the characters Of O.,
biography, upon the generosity OF ;beIrsM:,
vlving relatives and friends, to furnish US WIZ
whateverlnteresting materials may be IN lnsn
possession for which, with our grateful ~ q.
acknowledgements, we promise copy Of W
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS. !,
/. The work WILDE publiihed in numbefs.JJ
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, a. a.
contained in ten numbers. 10 the u.
will be prefxed an appropriate iropS
piece-an the work will be commtn',ii
with the declaration of independence, p W
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures %
compendious detail OF the proceedlIg.ss,
congress, during the passage OF me 'S =.
Each OF the lives, unless wien IT i rl h.
practicable, will be preceded by 'b b,a
ness of the person, engraved by 'be W.
artists in the United States. ,h
IL. 1t will be printed on fine paper, n, "r,l
expressly for the purpose, and c na.e,rs
to subscribers at too dollars nndJyy''
pernumber, payable on delivery os,,
; ~ Subscriptions received at this ONT n