Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-09
By JOHN S.4.NDERSOJV
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal cual;te,
OF the statesmen whose names are s(fved n
the Declaration of Independence. the ner;,
lous occasion which demanded the exertion
OF their wisdom and deIiberation. and tho
influence OF their councils on the Interests 81
mankind, we must acknowledge that very
rarely a 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 commemorative, and Of being
cherished forever in the hearts of a grateful
and generous people. The love of inJepen.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
sttution Of the human mind. 1t is almost
the first sentiment that anImateS the infants
features in the cradle and amongst all the
actions and enterprises of man, none has
awaEed into activity greater exertion OF the
vlrtuous energies OF his nature, none has ex.
cited a greater warmth of yeneration. and
has more imperious claims upon our graft
tude, than resistance TO tyranny and political
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute Of
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 tom-the
grasp OF death, and the pen Of the historian
has inscribed the achievements 10 The impe.
rishable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
be 20 favor bile prognostic Of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover az
insensbllity TO the obligations we owe the
memory Of the ilustrioLs patrons Of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion o.
foreign power, TO the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the impresCrip.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge Of their lives, theirfoT
tunes and their sacred 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 contOundedn
the common and casual transaction OF lie
IHgratitude is vice that in nations, as wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree o.
degeneracy and corruption il isa vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue II was
in the age of Calgula that the name OF lne:
Seipios was prescribed, that the state o.
BrutuS brought death on It's posSeSsor.
g The glory of our ancestors is the ll9hto
posteri:y," and the homage Of the liylrg can
not be offered to the merits OF the illustnOuS
dead with an ehectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom Js
achieved by men who have humble or oTGI'
nary objects in prospect. Il Sby conitmPIa'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by Their emil;
Dent qualities, that we becomt emuIouS Q.
their virtues and their ronown. The Iophles
of Miltiades interrupted the Sleepsot hehllsii
tocles and Theseus, hearing the exPloIS O
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and o De-
came the successful rival of his fame Dc
rude savage of The desert listens with raPluI'
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs
round his hut the emblems OF his talhers~'
lour. ,t,,
More need not be said to enforce the ulliIj
OF The publication we have undertaken an.
which We now submit TO the patronage Of
fellow citizens. with hope, that from 'IS
IiberaIity of their encouragement, we SO'Ti
be able TO present it to the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend tor lD
illustration OF many of the characters Of o..
biography, upon The generosity OF ;heIT SUI
viving relatives and friends, TO furnish Us S.%
whatever interesting materials may be ~ ia ,r,
possession for which, with our grateful a
acknowledgements, we promise COPY q ~
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS. ~,
I. The work will be publiihed in numoero~d
half volumes of goo pages, octave fr,t
contained in ten numbers. 10 me ni
will be prefxed an appropriate 'o.d
piece-and the work will be commen.;ah
with the declaration of independence I'D
engraved fac SMILES OF the signatures ' 'i
compendiou, detail of the proeeefSaIOFf,r ,
congress, during the passage OF the e. '5 in.
Each OF the lives, unless when IT Is r 10
practicable, will be preceded by hest hest
ness Of the person, engraved by 'Ds y
artists in the United States. .n.de
II. It will be printed on fine paper n~lnred
expressly for the purpose, and d edl'c,,S
to subscribers at toeo dollars dadEyEy'
per number, payable on delivery oG,e
*.* Subscriptions received at tGiS on