Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-02-21
By JOHN S.4yVDERSO,N.
TO THE PUBIJC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal oy,E,;.,
OF the statesmen whose names are aa;vaJ -
the Declaration OF Independence. tho ne,;
lous occasion which demanded the eye -
OF their wisdom and deliberation, and tSe
influence OF their councils on the Interests ' oi
mankind, we must acknowledge tina, yerv
rarely more imposing spectacle has bse3
offered TO the world, and we shall seek IN
vain IN the annals of nations. for an even,
more worthy OF commemoration. and of beine
cherished forever in the hearts of a grateful
and generous people. The love of indepen.
dence Is interviewer with the.frame and con.
stitutlon OF the human mind. Ii is almos,
the hrst sentiment that anlmates 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 be.
TO who has promoted the cause oil liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity q
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued his features from tho
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has Inscribed the achievements to the Inpe.
Tisbable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favorable prognostic of the perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
inseusibiity to the obligations we owe The
memory of the illustrioLs patrons of American
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion Of
aforeign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people; they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
tiole rights of humanity by the "muua!
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theirfcr-
tunes and their sacred honors;" and, as long
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts o.
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 conioundediR
lhe common and casual transaction OF life
fngratitude is vice that in nations, IS wei
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
implies the absence of every virtue il was
in the age of Caligula that the name OF tie
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor
$ The glory of our ancestors is the light OF
posterity," and the homage of the living can
not be offered to the merits Of the llustrlouS
dead with an ef1ectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble or orttl'
nary objects in prospect. lii BY contempla'
ting the life and character OF those who are
marked out from the multitude by their enl...
nent qualities, that we become emul0us o.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleepsot ITEMS.
tocIes and Tbeseus, hearing the exploits Of
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, and be-
came the successful rival OF his fame. The
rude savage OF the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds Of his ancestors, and bangs a.
round his hut the emblems OF his fathers va
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, ana
which we now submit 10 the patronage OF ouf
fellow citizens. with hope, that from ths
|iberality of their encouragement, we ShaIi
be able to present it to the public worthyo
their appreciation. We must depend tor lhe
illustration OF many of the characters OF ou
biography, upon the generosity OF their sur
wing relatives and friends, TO furnish Us WIN
whateYerinteresting materials may be IN the'
possession; for which, with our grateful az
acknowledgements, we promise a copy OF Nv
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be Publiihed in nunbeTsga
half volumes Of 200 pages, octave, ~
contained in ten numbers. To the D..
will be prefxed an appropriate ironlr
piece--and the work will be commence
with The declaration Of independence, VIZ
engraved fac Smiles Of the signatures, a|.
a compendiou: detail of The proceedings
congress, during the passage OF the law
Each OF the lives, unless when il IS iDf
practicable, will be preceded by IKE
ness Of the person, engraved By The De''
artists in the United States, -
T. II will be printed on fine paper, naudS
expressly for the purpose, and dellvele,1
to subscribers at tao dollars ana. tffyesh'
pernnmber, payable on delivery
- Subscriptions receiyed at this once
October l3