Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-04-14
BIZ JOHN S.4JNDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal quail,
of the statesmen whose names are affixed j
the Declaration of independence. the nh
Ious occasion which demanded the eyer,
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and n
influence of their councils on the Interests
mankind, we must acknowledge that u]H
rarely more imposing spectacle has I'll
offered to the world, and we shall seei +
vain in the annals of nations, for an ess
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofte
cherished forever in the hearts of erste
and generous people. The love of inJesI
dence is interviewer with e>frame anduE
stitution of the human mind. Ii is sin
the first sentiment that anlmates the niar "a
features in the cradle and amongst all
actions and enterprises of man, none
awaked into activity greater exertiOnda e.
virtuous energies OF his nature, none has ~
cited greater warmth of veneration, u
has more imperious claims upon our grs
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and pOItc
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute
genius has been paid to The patriot or the b
TO who has promoted the cause OF liberty al
maintained the independence and dignity
man. The animated canvas and brealhl +
marble have rescued his features from q
grasp of death, and the pen of the histu.t
has inscribed the achievements TO The ind
rishable records oil fame 1t would indsf
be no favor bile prognostic of the perpetui}
Of our republican institutions to discoyera'
insensibility to the obligations we owe III
memory Of The illustrious patrons Of AmeriuEE
freedom. They have raised US, by hs
magnanimity, from the arbitrary domniol
foreign power, to the distinguished eIevatr3'
of sovereign and Independent people; tle
have asserted and maintained the imprescTlh
liole rights of humanity by the "mutq
pledge Of their pledge of their lives, heMEY
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, ash
as virtue holds her empire in the hears
their successors, the example of these ges
rous benefactors will not be lost to the Vcts {
their names will not pass away nor be fOgi
ten, or their glorious deeds be confounda
the common and casual transaction ofiik-5
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as Es
as individuals, indicates the last degree
degeneracy and corruption il is a vice ID
implies the absence of every virtue il VI
in the age of Caligula that the name Of
Scipios was prescribed, that the state |
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
4" The glory of our ancestors is thefisbt'
posteritS," and the homage Of the living "a
not be offered to the merits OF the iliusIo
dead with an efectuai or sterile admraIGI
Great and splendid actions will seldoa
achieved by men who have hum DE OF or I
nary objects in prospect. /, is By con'euFE
ting the life and character OF those ghOsS
marked out from the multitude by tltiTak
nent qualities, that We become emulOG,
their virtues and their renown. The top T
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF btT
tocles and Theseus, hearing the eIpGaGSy
Hercules, vas fred " ith bis spirit, asd (
came the successful rival of his fame, %
rude savage OF the desert listens with rsP5.
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hang q
round his hut the emblems of his fstheriab
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the ual 1
of the publication we have undertaken, u
which we now submit to the patronage OlG
fellow citizens. with a hope, that from '
liberality of their encouragement, we Sl
be able to present it to the public WORTH
their appreciation. We must depend oip
illustration OF many of the characters o. u
biography, upon the generosity OF ;beHs3
vlving relatives and friends, to furnish Us
whateyerlnteresting materials may be lan
possession for which, with our grateful &
acknowledgements, we promise copy Oh =
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS. "a
|. The work will be publiihed in numnerJS
half volumes of 200 pages, octave 4
contained in ten numbers. TO tne h
will be pre6xed an appropriate lI@I'
piece-and the work will be comnsps'
with the declaration of independence, W
engraved fac Smiles of the signatures, :
compendious detail Of the proceeaHsa
congress, during the passage OF the
Each OF the lives, unless when IL HI
practicable, will be preceded ~
ness of the person, engraved by lns
artists in the United States. ua3
Ii. 1t will be printed on fine paper, ~
expressly for the purpose, and GEM sn.,e
to subscribers at tuo dollars and JWy'
pernumber, payable on delivery sa
~ Subscriptions received at this 0D +
October l8 III