Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-15
By JOHN S.fNDERSO.w,
TO THE PUBLIC.

TO THE PUBLIC.
When we consider the personal ouaI,;,.
of the statesmen whose names are a&ysd !.
the Declaration Of independence. the nov.
lous occasion which demanded the eYe rfs
OF their wisdom and deliberaticn. and tSa
influence OF their councils on the Interests ~
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. yerv
rarely a more imposing spectacle has been
offered to the world, and we shall seek u
vain IN the annals OF nations, for an even,
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbem,
cherished forever in the hearts of prateG1
and generous people. The love Of indepep.
dence is interviewer with the. frame and con.
sttution of the human mind. I. is almost
the hrst sentiment that animates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst all tks
actions and enterprises of man, none has
aWaEed into activity greater exertion OF d.
vlrtuous energies OF bis nature, none has e,.
cited greater warmth of veneration, ana
has more imperious claims upon our grail
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and poIluI
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 q
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 inp..
rishable records oil fame. 1t would indeed
be no favorlbie prognostic of the perpetui.y
OF our republican institutions TO discover an
insensibility 10 the obligations We owe Il:
memory of The ilIustrioGs patrons OF Americas
freedom. They have raised US, by their
magnanimty, from the arbitrary dominion d
a foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign and independent people tbey
have asserted and maintained the impreseip.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theiror.
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, as Ons
as virtue holds her empire in the hears d
their successors, the example of these gene,
rous benefactors will not be lost TO the world
their names will not pass away nor be forget.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundeda
the common and casual transaction ollie
lngratitude is vice that in nations. as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption it is vice tia.
implies the absence Of every virtue : il wa
in the age of Caligula that the name OF hs
Stpios 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 iIlustriOG
dead with an etfectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom he
achieved by men who have hum Die or ordr
nary objects in prospect. 1t is by contempt
ting the lie and character OF those who are
marked cut from the multitude by tier emI.
nent qualities, that we become emuous o.
their virtues ard their renown. The trophies
OF Miitiades interrupted the sleeps Of J htmh
tocles and Theseus, hearing The exploisd
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 bis ancestors. and hangs a.
round his hut the emblems of his fathef'su'
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utility
of the publication we have undertaken, and
which We now submit to the patronage ofcai
fellow citizens. with a hope, that from tbs
liberality of their encouragement, we shall
be able TO present it to the public worttyd
their appreciation. We must depend for bs
illustration OF many of the characters Of GU;
biography, upon The generosity Of ;heIrsur
wing relatives and friends, to furnish US EIis
whatever interesting materials may be in theN
possession; for which, with our grateful ae
acknowledgements, We promise a copy OF iS
entire oIk as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be publiibed nDunbeEG
half volumes Of geo pages, octave, sla
contained in ten numbers. To the hI'
will be pre6xed an appropriate lroS':
piece-and the work viii be comntntaq
with the declaration of independence, wiz
engraved fac Smiles of the signatures, slp
sompendiou' detail of The proceedings
congress, during the passage OF the lae'
Each OF the lives, unless when il is p
practicable, will be preceded by lSr
ness of the person, engraved by The DC"
artists in the United States. /.
II. 1t will be printed On fine paper, NAV
expressly for the purpose, and Gel'el.%
to subscribers at toso dollars and .Etyea"
pernumber, payable on delivery
~ Subscriptions received atthis oh,tf'
nnfobor 10