Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-04-26
BIZ JOHN .S.HvDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.


When we consider the personal ouaIiss, s
of the statesmen whose names are affixed
the Declaration of independence, the peF, s
lous occasion which demanded the exerm {
OF their wisdom and deliberation and M /
influence of their councils on the Interests d <
mankind, We must acknowledge tha. yer
rarely more imposing spectacle has bee, {
offered to the world, and we shall seek +
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofben
cherished forever in the hearts of grstij
and generous people. Tue love of inJepe
dence is interviewer with the. frame ndtco. {
stitution of the human mind. 1t is alms
the first sentiment that anImates the infant, 4
features in tn: cradle and amongst all ID. i
actions and enterprises OF man, none BIZ
awa6ed into activity a greater exertion oi&s
virtuous energies of his nature, none has
cited a greater warmth of veneration, an!
has more imperious claims upon our graf 4
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and p0IiauI
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribuec.
genius has been paid to The patriot or theLs
no who has promoted the cause OF liberty AID
maintained the independence and dignitya
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from h
grasp OF death, and the pen of the historic
has inscribed the achievements TO the imps.
rishable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
be no favor bile prognostic of The perpetuiy
Of our republican institutions to discover 40
insensibility TO the obligations We owe TIE
memory Of he illustrioLs patrons of America
freedom. They have raised US, by tben
magnanimity. from Inc arbitrary dominonoi
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescip
liole rights of humanity by the "mun
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, tbeiric
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, lg
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts d !
rous benefsctors will not be lost to the wordi
their names will not pass away nor be fols0.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedn
The common and casual transaction OF life
lngratitude is vice that in nations as vel
as individuals, indicates the last degree
degeneracy and corruption it is vice tha
implies the absence Of every virtue; il Eai
in the age of Caligula that the name Of The
ScipiOs was prescribed, that the state o.
Brutus brought death on its possessor
The glory of our ancestors is the EghlO
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits OF the illustrloG
dead with an efectuaI or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom Re
achieved by men who have hum Die or oIdF
nary objects in prospect. Il is by contemPIa
ting the life and character OF those whOas
marked out from the multitude by their emf
nent qualities, that we become emulOu;;
their virtues and their renown. The tltphe
of Mltades interrupted the sleeps Of lhenE
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploE;C
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, asd Ct &C.
came the successful rival of his fame. IR
rude savage OF the desert listens with raPtuF
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs g
round his hut the embiems Of his fathersW'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the uiIlly
OF the publication we have undertaken, anu
which We now submit TO the patronage Of OUT
fellow citizens. with a hope, that from h "
liberality OF their encouragement, we SNAP
'be able to present it to the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend tor zoe %.
illustration OF many of the characters OF ou'
biography, upon the generosity of their SUI.
vWing relatives and friends, to furnish US WI.
whatevcrlnteresting materials may be in ths'
possession; for which, with our grateful! &C &C
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF w
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbers
half volumes of goo pages, octave, 81 81
contained in ten numbers. To the d.,
will be prefxed an appropriate iroDI:
/. riece--and the work viii be conmenf.eii
with the declaration of independence, wiz
engraved fac simies Of the signatures, az.
a compendious detail of the proceedlDesvv
congress, during the passage OF the ls az
Each OF the lives, unless wien il IS SIN, IN
practicable, will be preceded Ivy Ihs ,
ness Of the person, engraved by The D''
artists in the United States. IL
IL. 1t will be printed on fine paper, rnaa aux
expressly for the purpose, and del''el ss
to subscribers al t,oo dollars and ytftyse''
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received atthis ONCE
Ocfohar 10 II