Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-01-15
By JOHN S.4NDERSOv
TO THE PUBIIr


When we consider the nersnr,I g..
o. o. 'he statesmen whose names are afiS ri' =
the Declaration of independence tbs ~. %
ious occasion which demanded the eYo rt,.,
OF tneir wisdom and deliberation and tIu
innuence OF their councils on the jnters,t. ~ &c
mankind, we must acknowledge tbat no1 u.
rarely more imposing spectacle has hoy ,ey
offered TO the world, and we shall sao Geei
vain IN the annals of nations. for an oron
more worthy OF commemorative and $3.50 In
cnerlsheo forever In the hearts of grsteGS'
and generous people. The love of Sdenen
dence Is interviewer with the.trame and con-
stItution OF tn" human mind. II is aImor
the FIRST sentiment that anIma,es the infant,
features in the oracle and amongst ali tbs
actions and enterprises of man, none h.,
awaEed into activity greater exertioD Of tbs
vrtuous energies OF his nature none has o.,
cited greater warmth of venerstion and
has more imperious claims upon our graf, !
tude, than resistance to tyranny and poiitc,l'
aggression.
In all republican states the first tributea
genius has been paid TO ihe patriot or the h..
70 who has promoted the cause oil liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity.
man. lhe animated canvas and breat6r
marble have rescued his features from me-
grasp Of death, aud the pen Of the histor,n
has Inscribed the achievements to the imps,
rishable records oil fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor bile prognostic Of the perpetuly
OF our republican institutions to discover an
lnsensIbllity to the obligations we owe the
memory OF the lliustrious patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanlmity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF a sovereign and inde. adent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
liole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge of their lives, heirfoI.
tunes and their sacred honors :" and as long
IS 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 contoundeda
the common and casual transaction OF life
lngrattude is a vice that in nations, as We.
az individuals, indicates the last degree
dsgeneracy and corruption it is vice tta Z
implies the absence of every virtue ; il WIS
in the age of Caligula that the name OF tie
Scpios was prescribed, that the state 4
Brutus brought death on its possessor
Z" The glory of our ancestors is the Lighter
posterity," and the homage of the living cll-
not be offered to the merits OF the lllus'T!0ls
dead with an effectual or sterile admraIoa'
Great and splendid actions will seldom
achieved by men who have humble or ol1I'
nary objects in prospect. It is by conte,mpa'
ting the life and character OF those VINO as
marked out from the multitude by their enl;
nent qualities, that we becomt emulouS o.
their virtues and their repown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleepsot lhenn[r
tocies and Theseus, hearing the e1plol's"
Hercules, was fired with bis spirit, and c DE-
came the successful rival OF his fame INC
rude savage Of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds Of his ancestors, and hangs D.
round his hut tie emblems OF BIS iathers'a'
lour. -.
More need not be said to enforce the utllly
of the publication we have undertaken, any
which we now submit to the patronage Of gu
fellow citizens. with hope, that from 'n
liberality of their encouragement, ne sha'
be able to present it to the public "oftny
their appreciation. We must depend Tor ln
illustration OF many Of the characters OF O..
biography, upon The generosity OF ihelFsG
wing relatives and friends, to furnish US W.
interesting materialsmay be IN ias
possession for which, with our grateful y
acknowledgements, we promise copy Oh !"
entire ork as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
[. The work will be pubIiihed in numoenJi
half volumes of 200 pages, octave ffI
contained in ten numbers. 10 me w.
will be prefxed an appropriate Non r1
piece-and the work will be commen nth
with the declaration Of independence W." Nd
engraved fac SMILES of THE signatures. si
compendious detail of the proeeeol"FIT
congress, during the passage Of Toe + in.
Each Of the lives, unless when II . rts.
practicable, will be preceded by hes: /
ness of the person, engraved by 'n'
artists 10 the United States. made
Il. It will be printed on fine paper i m
expressly for the purpose, ana assn,,,t,ae
to subscribers at tsso dollar, and pryor."
pernumber, payable on dsIIve cry. otf ee.
~ Subscriptions received al luis u"