Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-26
By JOHN S.4NDERSO.Y.
TO THE PHRIIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal quais,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed 10
the Declaration of independence. the per.
lous occasion which demanded the eXertiVo
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and The
! influence OF their councils on the interests Of /
! mankind, we must acknowledge that 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 commemorative, and of being
! cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. Tb. love of ndepen.
| dence is interviewer with the,frame and con.
| stitution of the human mind. II is almost
| the first sentiment that anilnates the infants
| features in the cradle ; and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity a greater exertion of the
virtuous energies of his nature, none has ey.
cited a greater warmth of generation. and
has more imperious claims upon our grail
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the FIRST tribute oil
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity oil
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 impe-
rishable records oil fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor BILE prognostic of the perpetuity
of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibility to the obligations we owe the
memory of The illustrioLs patrons of American
e. h.,
magnanimty. from the arbitrary dominion OF
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescIip.
tiole rights of humanity by the "mUtual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theirior-
tunes and their sd cred honors :" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts q
| 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 conioundedin
| the common and casual transaction OF lite -
| lngratitude is a vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degenerscy 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 d
Brulus brought death on its possessor.
g The glory of our ancestors is the IigbtO
| posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered 10 the merits of the illustgiOG
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom b
| achieved by men WHO have humble OF ortr
| nary objects in prospect. II is by conempa'
| ting the life and character of those who are
| marked out from the multitude by their emf
| nent qualities, that we become enulOus b
their virtues and their renown. The Trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps of Tbem!.
| tocles and Theseus, hearing the exploipG
Hercules, was fired with bis spirit, and BE-
came the successful rival of his fame, lbs
| rude savage of the desert listens with raplUIs
| to the deeds OF his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the embems Of his father'sw'
! lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now SUBMIT the patronage oiot
| fellow citizens. with hope, that from lAa
| iiberalty of their encouragement, we sbsp
! be able TO present it to the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend for the
illustration OF many of the characters Of od
| biography, upon the generosity of their sur
\
whateverlnterestingm materials may be in theN
possession; for which, with our grateful sr
know Judgments, we promise copy OF bs
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
!, l. The work will be publiihed in numbers
half volumes of 200 pages, octave, sDs
contained in ten numbers. To the DE-
will be prehxed an appropriate frop'E
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, wiz
engraved fac SMILES oftbe signatures, am
compendiou: detail of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF the low
Each OF the lives, unless when ii IS ,n ~
| practicable, will be preceded by a lS
! ness of the person, engraved by the W.
artists in the Uaited States. ~
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper; mSsd
/ expressly for the purpose, and cell' s,,s
| to subscribers at too dollars and Gjtye""
!! pernumber, payabIe'on delivery a,s
! ~ Subscriptions re ceived at tins oH.''