Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-23
By JOHN S.qNDERSC.N.
TO THE PJ1RJJC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal qualities
OF The statesmen whose names are affixed 10
| the Declaration of independence. the peri.
lous occasion which demanded the eXertjOp
OF their wisdom and deIiberation, and Tie
! influence OF their councils on the interests Of
! mankind, we must acknowledge tba. very
! rarely 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 c0mmemoralion, and OF being
cherished forever in the hearts of grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
! dence is interviewer it'll the. frame and con.
sItuion OF the human mind. It is almost
the hrst 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
| virtuous energies of his nature, none has ey.
cited greater warmth of veneration and
has more imperious claims upon our graft
| tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and political
| aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute OF
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he
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 from The
grasp OF death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements to the inpe-
| riShable records OF fame. Ii would indeed
! be no favor BILE progpostic of Tie perpe!u!y
| OF our republican institutions to cisco, er an
insensib!ity to the obligations we owe the
memory Of the ilus,roLs patrons of American
! freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion of
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
| of sovereign and Independent people; they
| have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
| tioe rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, their for.
tunes and their So cred honors - and. as long
| as virtue holds her empire in the hearts Of
their successors, the example of these gene.
| rous beneiactors will not he lost to tie world;
| their names will not pass away nor be forgot
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedn
| the common and casual transaction Of life
tngrstitude is vice that in nations, as wed
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
| hegeneracy and corruption il is vice that
implies the absence Of every virtue; il was
in The age OF CalguIa that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state OF
Brutus brought death or lis possessor.
| =" he glory OF our ancestors is the light Of
poster;y,' and the homage OF The liyits can,
not he offered 10 the merits OF The iiIu>r0U;
! dead with an efectua or sterile admiration
| Great and splendid actions will sedcn, be
| achieved by men who Lave hun Die on OIdi
| nary objects in prospect. Ii is b. conttnra.
| ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out trom The multitude ty tieIr tHi.
nent qualities, that we become enuIcus i
| their virtues and their lenoWn. 7 be tmlhig
of Dlltiades interrupted The sleeps of 'Ihcmis
| locles and Iheseus, hearing the exploilso
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, aao be-
came the successful rival OF lis fame. The
rude savage OF The desert listens with rapture
to the deeds Of his ancestors. and bangs a
round his hat the embiems ofhis latAel'sW
| Tour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
Of the publication we have undertaken, and
which we now submit to the patronage ofOu
fellow citizens. with hope, that from The
| liberality of their encouragement, we shall
| be able TO present it to the public worthy Of
| their appreciation. We must dspend for tie
| illustration OF many OF the characters OF ouf
! biography, upon The generosity of their sur
vIving relatives and friends, 10 furnish US With
whatevcrlneresting materials may lie in ther
possession for which, with our grateful ac
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF tDe +
entire ork as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be puhIiihed in numberscii
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave, aDa
contained in ten numbers 70 the ils'
VIII be prehxed an appropriate i!oD'E
plece-and the work will he commences
with tie declaration of independence, VIII
engraved fac Smiles of the signatures, Sh'
compendious detail OF the proceedings
congress, during the passage al the I@V'
Each OF the lives, unless when il is lD'
practicable, will be preceded ly !,Fe,
ness of the person, engraved ly Tie t'''
| artists in the United States. ;.
IL. 1t will be printed on fine parer. maos
expressly for the purpose, and deliver"
to subscribers at taco dollars ondIGlf""
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received at tins oihee'
!