Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-07
81 JOHN S4NpERsON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal qualities
of the statesmen whose names are affixed 10
the Declaration of independence, the peri.
Ious occasion which demanded the exertion
OF their wisdom and deIiberation, and the
influence of their councils on the interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely a more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek in
vain ia the annals of nations, for an even.
more worthy OF commemoration, and OF being
cherished forever in the hearts of a grateful
aud generous people. Tb. love of inJepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
sttu ON Of the human mind. 1t is almost
the sentiment that animates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises Of man, none has
awaked into activity a greater eXertien of the
~virtuous energies of his nature, none has ey-
cited a greater warmth of generation, 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 be.
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity Of
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from the
grasp o death, and the pen OF the historian
has inscribed the achievements to The impe.
rishable records OF fare. it would indeed
be no favorable proenostic of he perpetui,y
of our republican institutions TO discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe tie
memory Of tie illustrioGs patrons of American
,nnIn,, I'hzu hnr, r.-,L 80. l.. n.
magnaninIty, from tne arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people theg
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
liole rights of humanity by the mutuai
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, tbeirfcr.
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 benefactors will not be lost to the world;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be COMPOUNDED in
The common aad casual transaction of life
IDgratitude is a vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Oh
degeneracy and corruption !; it is a vice that
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 IFS possessor.
1.-The glory OF our ancestors is the lightof
posterity," and the homage of theli.ing can
not be offered TO the merits of the illustrious
dead with an eftectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or ordf-
nary objects in prospect. Ii is by contempf1.
ting the life and character of these who are
marked out from the multitude by their cmi.
nent qualities, that we become enulous Of
their virtues and their renown The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps of fhemis.
tocles ; and Theseus, hearing the e~xploitsc
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and be.
came the successful rival of his fame. Tile
rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds OF his ancestors, and bangs a.
round his hut the emblens ofhis father'srs.
lOur.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
Of the publication VIC have undertaken, AID
which we aow submit to the patronage ofout
fellow-citizeDs. with a hope, that from tie
liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it 10 the public worthy Of
their appreciation. We. must depend for the
illustration OF many of the characters of Our
biography, upon the generosity of their sur.
vIving relatives and friends, 10 furnish US With
whatever interesting materials may be in their
possession for which, with our grateful &C.
acknowledgements, we promise a copy o! the
entire work as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be publiihed in numbersG
half volumes of 200 pages. octave, end
contained in ten numbers. To the fist
will be prefxed an appropriate fronts.
piece--and the work viii be commenced
with the declaration of independence, with
engraved fac SMILES eftbe signatures, and,
a sompendiousdet Of the proceediDgscl
congress, during the passage OF the law,
Each OF the lives, unless when it is i'm
practicable, will be preceded Ivy a like.
ness of the person, engraved by The best
artists 10 the United States. ]
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, mace :
expressly for the purpose, and delivered
to subscribers at tnpo dollars and ffyctf.
%pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this office.
October 10 If