Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-13
By JOHN S.qNDERSON.
TO THE PUBLIC.

" LIE fU DIN.
When we consider the personal op,lx..
of the statesmen whose names are AFFIXED :
the Declaration of independence. the nav
lous occasion which demanded the eYera,
OF their wisdom and deliberation. andI.
influence of their councils on the Interests, Il
mankind, we must acknowledge that wr
rarely more imposing spectacle has be-.
offered to the world, and we shall seek !,
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy of commemoration, and ofbes
cherished forever in the hearts of grateil
and generous people. Th. love Of iadeuet.
denceis interviewer with the4frame andcor.
stitution Of the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that animates the infanti
features in the cradle /; and amongst all d.
actions and enterprises of man, none bs, I
awaked into activity greater exertion oftbe
yirtuous energies of his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of veneration, and |.
has more imperious claims upon our grsd. +
tude, than resistance TO tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
genius has been paid to the patriot or hehe.
TO who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity d
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features IRON the
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the imps.
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favorable prognostic of the perpetuly
OF our republican institutions to discoversn
insensibility to the obligations we owe tts
memory OF the illustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by ter
magnanimity, from tne arbitrary dominiono
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign aud independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescip
tiole rights of humanity by the "mutgil
pledge OF their pledge o! their lives, thero.
tunes and their sacred honors - and, asbng
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 confoundedn
the common and 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 virtue it was
in the age Of Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor. !,
The glory of our ancestors is the lighto
posteriiy,'' and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits OF the illustrlUu
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men WHO have humble or ordI,
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by conempla-
ting the life and character of those who are
marked out from the multitude by their emf.
nent qualities, that we become emuou: o.!
their virtues and their renoWn. The trophes
Of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps Of ThemI..
tocles; and Theseus, hearing the exploits Of
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and be-
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 bis hut the embIems OF his fathers va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit TO the patronage OF our
fellow citizens, with hope, that from lns
liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it to the public worthy d
their appreciation. We must depend tor The
illustration OF many of the characters Of oui
biography, upon the generosity OF Their sur.
wing relatives and friends, to furnish US VIII
whatever interesting materials may be in then
possession for which, with our grateful 90
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF ll'
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiihed in numbers
half volumes of 900 pages, octave, an
contained in ten numbers. To the hI'
will be pre6xed an appropriate fronts
piece-and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independence, VII
engraved fac SMILES of the signatures, an
compendions detail of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF the lsN
Each OF the lives, unless when il is in
practicable, will be preceded BY IKE
ness of the person, engraved By the pe'
artists in the United States. !,
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, nlao'
expressly for the purpose, and delivers
to subscribers at two dollars and try sr'
pernumber, payableon delivery
~ Subscriptions received atthis once
October ID II