Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-15
BIZ JOHN s.4NDERsoN.
TO THE PUBLIC.

When we consider the personal quaIite,
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed n
the Declaration of independence. the nsS
lous occasion which demanded the erer;o,
OF their wisdom and deliberation. and Il.
influence OF their councils on the Interests d
mankind, we must acknowledge tha.wrv
rarely more imposing spectacle has been
offered TO the world, and we shall seek n
vain in the annals of nations, for an event
more worthy OF commemoration, and ofbeny
cherished forever in the hearts of erateiTl
and generous people. TIL. love Of inHdeuen.
dence is interviewer with the, frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. II is aImoa
the first sentiment that animates the infant,
features in the cradle !; and amongst all ii.
actions and enterprises of man, none ba,
awaked 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 o.
genius has been paid to the patriot OF the be.
TO who has promoted the cause OF liberty and
maintained the independence and dignity Of
man. The animated canvas and breathing
marble have rescued bis features from The
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements 10 the imps
rishable records OF fame. 1t would indeed
be no favor lble prognostic of the perpetuy
OF our republican institutions to discoveran
insensibility TO the obligations we owe the
memory of tae illustrious patrons of America
freedom. They have raised US, by then
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominiOnol
atoreign power, to the distinguished elevation
of sovereign and independent people; theY
have asserted and maintained the imprescnp
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theHOr
tunes and their sacred honors :" and, asbng
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts d
their successors, the example of these gene
rous benefactors will not be lost to the world;
their names willnot pass away nor be forgot.
ten, or their glorious deeds be contOundedln
the common aad casual transaction Of life.
lngratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree Of
degeneracy and corruption il is a vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue il was
in the age of Caligula that the name OF the
Scipios was prescribed, that the state Of
Brutus brought death on its possessor.
. The glory of our ancestors is the lighto'
.posterity," and the homage OF the livirg can
not be offered to the merits of the illustrOa
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom be
achieved by men who have humble or oldt
nary objects in prospect. 1t by contenplS
ting the life and character of those who are
marked cut from the multitude by their emil.
nent qualities, that we become emulous o.
their virtues and their renown. The trophies
of Miltiades interrupted the sleeps OF henE,
tocles and Theseus, hearing the eXplo;G
Hercules, was fired with his spirit, and BE-
came the successful rival of his fame. lbs
rude savage of the desert listens with rapture
to the deeds Of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the emblems ofhis fdthersFa
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the utlllly
ofthe publication we have undertaken, aOu
which we now submitto the patronage Of ouI
fellow citizens. witha hope, that from ps t
liberality of their encouragement, we snal
be able topresent ii to the public worthy
their appreciation. We must depend tor h
illustration OF many of the characters Of 0u
biography, upon the generosity OF ,heHsmlI
viving relatives and friends, to furnish US wv.
whateyerlnteresting materials may lie in lhen
possession; for which, with our grateful a. a.
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF Nv
entire W ork as a compensation.
CONDITIONS.
/. The work will be publiihed in numbers
half volumes Of goo pages, octave, an as
contained in ten numbers. 10 the W.
y will be prehxed an appropriate iropai
piece and the work will be commence
with the declaration of independenee, wa
q engraved fac Smiles of the signatures asi
compendious detail Of the proceeding
congress, during the passage OF TIE ls =.
3 Each OF the lives, unless when il IS ~ ~
practicable, will be preceded by a nv Nv,
& snessof the person, engraved by Inc -
artists ia the United States. A.
III. Il will be printed on fine paper, ma gsd
expressly for the purpose, and celIs IN.
to subscribers at two dollars and yfy e'''
pernumber, payable on delivery a..
X Subscriptions received at this oAts'