Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-06
By JOHN S.qJWDERSON.
TO TIE PUBIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal oual;ss.
Of the statesmen whose names are aihvss =
the Declaration OF independence, the nav
ious occasion which demanded the eysrtio,
OF their wisdom and deliberation, ard ,Sa
influence Of their councils On the Interests n
mankind, we must acknowledge tia. vern
rarely more imposing spectacle has bee,
offered to the world, and we shall seek n
vain IN the annals OF nations, for an event
more worthy OF conmemoration, and fbeirp
cherished forever IN the hearts Of erafeinl
and generous people. Tb. love of indepep.
dence is interviewer with the.frame and con.
sttution ofthe human mind. 1t is alnos,
the first sentiment that animates the ipfan,'s
features in the cradle (; and amongst all tbe
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity greater eXertion of The
virtuouS energies of his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of generation, and
has more imperious claims upon our graf.
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 o!
man. The animated canvas end breathing
marble have rescued his features trom the
grasp OF death. and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to The npe.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor BILE prognostic of the perpetuily
OF our republican institutions to discover an
inseDsioility to the obligations We owe the
memory OF The illustrious patrons OF American
freedom. They have raised US, by taeir
magnanlmity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people theg
have asserted and maintained the impTescrip.
iiole rights of humanity by the ''mutuaI
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, their for.
tunes and their sa cred honors :" and. as LONE
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts o.
their successors, the example Of these gene.
rous benetactors will not be lost to the wort;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundeda
The common and casual transaction oflife -
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree d
degeneracy and corruption il is vice tia,
Implies the absence of every virtue; It was
in the age Of Caligula that the name of he
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on It's possessor.
"The glory Of our ancestors is the Iightot
posterity," and the homage Of the living can.
not be offered 10 the merits of the illustriou
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum de or oIdi'
Eary objects in prospect. 1t is By contenph'
ting the life and character of those who ap
marked out from the multitude by their emf
nent qualities, that we become emulous O.
their virtues and their rsnown. The trophies
of hliltiades interrupted the sleeps CT E'henk
tocles F; and Thegeus, hearing the eyploitse
Hercules, was fired with Lis spirit, end be.
came the successful rival Of his fame. The
rude savage OF The desert listens with Rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors. and hang: :,
round his hut the embIems OF his fatheIsri'
lOur.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
OF tie publication we have undertaken, and
which we low submit to the patronage ofcI
fellow. citizens. with hope, that from tls
liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present il 10 the public worthy
their appreciation. WE must depend for tie
Illustration Oh many OF the Characters OF on!
biography, uPon the generosity Of theirsn1,.'
7Iving relatives and friends, to furnish Us viii
whatever interesting materials may be in ther
possession fer which, with our grateful aE'
acknowledgements, we promise copy Of Il'
eItire " orb as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be publiihcd in numbered
half volumes of zoo pages, octave, aHs
contained in ten numbers. To The bIa
will be prefSed an appropriate fronts,
pisce--and the work viii be ccmn.nctgl
with the declaration of independence, wI,
engraved fec smiles oftbe signatures, ane
eompendious detail of the proceedirgso
congress, during the passage Of tie IA"
Each OF the lives. unless VIXEN il is In
practicable, will be preceded by ne
ness of the person, engraved by ibe e.
artists in tbs United States. J..
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, naol
expressly for the purpose, and dsli'elegg,
TO subscribers at too dollars and ffyeHft
pernumber, payable on delivery
w Subscriptions re ceiyed at this thes'
October Ie