Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-10
By JCRJT e.?NDERSO.N.
TO THE puRIIr

TO THE PUBLIC.
when we consider the personal oualitio.
Of the statesmen whose names are a8iyed ~
the Declaration of Independence, the nav;
lous occasion which demanded the eyertor
OF their wisdom and deliberation. and ii,
influence OF their councils on the interests ~
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. yery
rarely a more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek IN
vain in the annals of nations, for an eyant
more worthy OF commemoration and ofbeins
cherished forever in the hearts of eratefl
and generous people. Tb. love of injepep.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. 1t is almoa
the hrst sentiment that animates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all ths
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaEed into activity greater exertion of the
vlrtuous energies Of his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of veneration. and
has more imperious claims upon our grai.
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Q!
genius has been paid to the patriot or the be.
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. irom The
grasp Of death, and the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements to The npe.
rishable records oil fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor IDLE prognostic of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions TO discover an
to the obligations We owe the
memory OF the iifustrloLs patrons OF American
Fl oedom. They have raised US, by theil
magnanimiiy, from the arbitrary dominion Of
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
Of sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrp.
tio!e rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge Of their pledge OF their lives, theirfcr.
tunes and their sacred honors ;" and, as loDs
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts d
their successors, the example of these gene.
rous beHeiactors will not be lost TO the word;
their names will not pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedn|
the common and casual transaction of life
is vice that in nations, as WE'LL
as individuals, indicates the last degree 81
degeneracy and corruption il is vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue il waI
in the age of Ca!igula that the name OF The
SCipios was prescribed, that the state al
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
4" The glory of our ancestors is The Lighted
posterity," and the homage. of the living can.
not be offered to the merits of the ilIusflioG
dead with an effectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions viii seldom h |
achieved by men WHO have hum Die or ordt
nary objects in prospect. |, is by conlemyl;.
ting the life and character OF those Who an
marked out from the multitude by tLer en. |
nent qualities, that we become emulous d
their virtues and their renown. The tropbN:
OF Sliitiades interrupted the sleeps Of henir
tocles and Theseus, hearing the e1ploihdE
Hercules, "as fred with Lis spirit, and BE-
came the successful rival of bis fame. Tb.
rude savage of The desert listens with raptgr
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs e.
round his hut the siRbleas bis fdtber'su'
lour
alore need not he said 10 enforce the utility /
OF the publication re have undertaken, an
which We now submit TO the patronage oicH I
fellow citizens. with hope, that from te
liberality of their encouragement. We shil
be able 70 present il 10 the public wor!byd
their appreciation. we must depend foI ae 4
Illustration Of many of the characters Of oa.
biography, upon The generosity Of therE /
viving relatives and friends, to furnish uswiis
interesting material Is may be in5eE
for which, with cur grate;5i e
acknowledgements, we promise copy Of "
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS. II
|. The work will be pub!;ihcd in nunhaG =
half volumes Of 2C0 pages, octayo, 81 s
contained in ten numbers. 70 tie tR
will be prefxed al appropriate f!op'%E
piece--and The WORK viii be ccmmenF s
withihe declaration OF independence, VII u
engraved fac SMILES ofthe signatures, @S 81
aompendiou: detail of the rroceedrgeE
congress, during the passage Of the NhE
Each OF the lives, unless when il IS 10
practicable, will be preceded by gsg.E
ness of the person, engraved ly the e
artists in the United States III
II. 1t will be printed on fine paper, na. M
expressly for the purpose, and deliVa.r r
to subscribers at tao dollars and fym U
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at this ofnst'
u ~