Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-22
By JOHN S.4.NDERSON.
TO THE PURTJC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal qualities
of the statesmen whose names are affixed 10
the Declaration of independence. the peri.
lous occasion which demanded the exertion
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 commemoration, and of being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. Tb. love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that anlmates the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity greater exerton of the
virtuous energies of his nature, none has ex.
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 OIL
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he
70 who has promoted the cause OF liberty andl
| maintained the independence and dignity of
man. The animated canvas and brealhiDgi
marble have rescued his features from tLeI
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements to the inpe.l
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bic prognostic of The perpetuiy
Of our republican institutions to discover an
insensibilty to the obligations we owe the
memory of the illustrious patrons OF American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity from the arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the mprescrip.
tioIe rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, THEN for.
tunes and their sacred honors y and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
their successors, the example of these gene.
rous benetactors will not be lost to the word;
| their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
| ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedin
| the common and casuai transaction OF life -
| Ingratiude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree o!
degeneracy and corruption il is vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue it was
in the age of Calignla that the name OF the
Soipos was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death op its possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is the light Of
posterity,' and the homage of The living can
not be offered to the merits of the ilustTious
dead with an effectual or sterile adnrstloa.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have hum Die or CrGi.
| nary objects in prospect. 1t is b. conlempa.
| ting the life and character OF those who aTt
marked out from the multitude ly tier tml.
nent qualities, that We become eTuIous j
their virtues and their re oWD. / he tCrhle;
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of ] Eemis,.
| tocles and Thescus, hearing the exploits oil
Hercules, was fired with lis spirit, and be-
came the successful rival of iris fame. Ibe
rude savage oil the desert listens with rapture
| to the deeds Of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the emblems ofhis fotbelsW
| lour.
More need not be said TO enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, aDd
which we now submit TO the patronage OF our
| fellow. citizens. with a hope, that from TIE
| liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it to the public worthy o.
| their approbation We must depend for the
illustration OF many of The characters Of ouI
biography, upon The generosity OF their sur,
vIving relatives and friends, TO furnish Us WIN
! WndtcFCt iIiVICstihS uIdtti ldls may Je ~ ~
possession; for which, with our grateful &C.
acknowledgements, we promise copy ol Tue
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbers Q!
half volumes of goo pages, octave, anu
/ contained in ten numbers. TO the Dr.
will be preExed an appropriate iropDS,
piece--and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, wiz
engraved fac Smiles oftbe signatures, 'Dut
csmpendiou: detail of the PROCEEDING"
congress, during the passage OF the 's"'
Each OF the lives, unless when IT IS ,, ID,
practicable, will be preceded by Ire,
ness of the person, engraved BY The p'''
artists in the UniedStates. do
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper; ns 1ed
expressly for the purpose, and delivers ~ eIsv
| to subscribers at tuo dollars and tJ'yf'"-
! pernumber, payable on delivery H..
*** Subscriptions re ceived at this oHtt''