Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-21
BIZ JOHN S.9JVDERSO.N.
TO THE PUBLIC.

10 III PUDLiE.
When we consider the personal uualitie,
OF the statesmen whose names are affixed 10
the Declaration of Independence. the peri.
lous occasion which demanded the exeroD
oil their wisdom and deiiberatjon. and The
influence OF their councils on the interests Of
mankind, we must acknowledge tina. 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 commemorative, and OF being
cherished forever in the hearts Of a grateful
and generous people. tn. love of indepen.
dence is interviewer With the frame and con.
stitution of the human mind. Ii is almost
the hrst sentiment that anImates the infants
features in The cradle ; and amongst all the
actions and enterprises OF man, none has
awased into activity a greater exertion The
vrIuous energies of his nature, none has ex.
cited greater warmth of veneraton. and
has more lmperlous 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 Toe patriot or the he.
ro 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 inre-
rishabie records OF fame. 1t would INDEED
be no favor bic prognostic of The perpetuity
OF our republican institutions to discover an
insensibIity to the obligations we owe The
memory OF tae iliustrioLs patrons OF America
freedom. They have raised US, BY the,
magnanimity from Inc arbitrary dominica Oh
foreign power, to the distinguished elevation
OF sovereign and independent people they
have asserted and maintained the imprescrip.
tiole rights Of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theirfor.
tunes and their sd cred honors - and. as Iorr
as virtue holds her empire in the hearls d
their successors, the example of these gene.
rous benetactors will not be lost TO the word;
their names will not pass away nor be f0Igo,.
ten, OF their glorious deeds be conioundeda
the common a1d casuat transaction OF lite -
ingratiude is a vice that in nations. as we'd
as individuals, indicates the LOST degree o.
degeneracy and corruption il is a vice thai
implies the absence If every vilue il vas
in the age OF Caligula that the name OF the
SCipios was prescribed, that the state Of |
Bruius brought death OF its possessor.
Ine glory OF our ancestors is the IightOl
posterity,' and the homage Of The Iiyi can
not be offered TO the merits OF the iIIustrioG
dead with an efiectuaI or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom lie
achieved by men WHO have hun Die OF ordt
nary objects in prospects. Ii is b. contnrt :
ting the life and clara cter OF those v hC an i
marked cut from the multitude ly then tpt
nent qualities, that We become tauOus
their virtues and their renoWn. he tIorIe
OF Miltiades interrupted the sIeeps OF 7 tns
tocles and Iheseus, hearing the expIOiso
Hercules, vas fred with his spirit, sDO e'
came the successful rival OF bis iaEe. Tie
rude savage OF the desert listens VI iii rapture
to the deeds of his ancestors, and hangs a.
round his hut the emblems Of his fathersW
lour.
More need not be said TO enforce the utility
OF the publca ton we have undertaken, and
which we now submit TO The patronage oicuI
fellow citizens, with hope, that from liss
Iiberaity of their encouragement, we shall
be able to present it to the public wOHlyU
their appreciation. We must depend foTit'
illustration OF many of the characters Of oi
biography, upon the generosity OF their sur
wing relatives and friends, to furnish US win
whatever interesting materials may be in ihef
possession for which, with our grateful a.
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF u
entire work as compensation.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pubiihe d in numbefq
half volumes of geo pages, octave, 5pa
contained in ten numbers. To the Dr.
Will be prefXed an appropriate hoD'F
piece-and the work viii be ccmnoDat
with the declaration of independence, VIZ
engraved lac Smiles ofihe signatures, ay
compendiou detail Of the proceedings
congress, during the passage OF the gm
Each OF the lives, unless when il is ID
practicable, will be preceded Ey ' l's
ness ofthe person, engraved by The DS'
artists ia the United States. IA
ii. It will be printed on fine paper, n.o
expressly for the purpose, and delreasg3
to subscribers at too dollars nndyGtiy"
pernumber. payable on delivery a,s
wv Subscriptions received at this oh.I
October T9