Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-18
BIZ JOHN S.4NDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.


When we consider the personal aualitie,
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed IN
the Declaration of independence, the pei.
lous occasion which demanded the exertio
OF their wisdom and deliberaton, and Tho
influence of their councils on the interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. verv
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek il
vain in the annals OF nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and OF bena
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. Tb. love of indepen.
dence is interviewer with the.f frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. i 1t is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all The
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaked into activity greater exertion Of The
virtuous energies of his nature, none hasey.
cited a 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 Of
genius has been paid to The patriot or the he.
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 toe
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements 10 the impe.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor ible prognostic of the perpetuily
Of our republican institutions to discover an
insensiblity to the obligations we owe tie
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 a sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrp.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theirior.
tunes and their sa cred 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 aud casual transaction of life
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption il is a vice that
implies the absence of every viriue il vas
in the age of CalignIa 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 lightoi
posterity," and the homage of the living can.
not be offered to the merits of the illustrious
dead with sn efectual or sterile admiration.
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men WHO have humble or oIdi.
nary objects in prospect. II is By contenpls.
ting the life and chsrac ter OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emi.
nent qualities, that we become enuous Of
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of henb.
tocles and Theseus, hearing the eyploitsc
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and b.
came the successful rival of his fame The
rude savage of the desert listens with Rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the embIems ofhis tathey'su.
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
OF the publication we have undertaken, and
which We now submit TO the patronage oiop
fellow citizens. with hope, that from the
liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it 10 the public worthyol
their appreciation We must depend for the
illustration OF many Of the characters Of our
biography, upon the generosity of their sur
wing relatives and friends, to furnish Us with
whatever interesting materials may be in heI'
possession for which, with cur grateful &C.
Acknowledgements, we promise copy OF The
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be publiihed in numbers@
half volumes Of 200 pages, octavo end
contained in ten numbers. TO the frsl
will be prefxed an appropriate fronts,
piece--and the work viii be- commenced
with the declaration of independence, with
engraved fac Smiles oftbe signatures, and,
sompendious detail of the proceedinesol
congress, during the passage of the law
Each OF the lives, unless when it is i'm
practicable, will be preceded by like.
ness of the person, engraved by the btsl
artists in the United States.
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, mad,
expressly for the purpose, and delivered
to subscribers at foo dollars and Gfycer
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions re ceived at this once
October l8
Tor