Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-01
By JOHN S.7JNDERSON
TO THE PUBLIC

TO THE PUBLIC.
When We consider the personal n,.l.,
of the statesmen whose names are sf|; ran's
the Declaration of independence, the N.Y.
lous occasion which demanded the eye pi,r
OF their wisdom and deiberation and,s
influence OF their councils on the interest, y
mankind, we must acknowledge tba. vo,,
rarely a more imposing spectacle bas bs',
offered to the world, and we shall seeL
vain IN the annals OF nations, for an eyeT,
more worthy OF commemorative. and ofbss,
cherished forever in the hearts of a ors,a5
and generous people. Th. love of jnden,,
dence is interviewer with e.frame and NV
stitutlon OF the human mind. Il is almos
the first sentiment that anmates the infant,
features in the cradle and amongst ali H.
actions and enterprises OF man, none hr
aWaEed into activity greater exertion oftI.
vlrtuous energies Of his nature, none has o.,
cited greater warmth of veneration IN
has more imperious claims upon our gran
tude, than resistance 10 tyranny and poItr
aggression.
In all republican states the first tribute oi
genius has been paid to the patriot or the he.
maintained the independence and dignity o;
man. The animated canvas and brealilm
marble have rescued his features from he
grasp of death, and the pen of the historian
has inscribed the achievements TO the inr..
rishable records OF fame. L. would indeed
be no favor bile prognostic of the perpetuily
OF our republican institutions 10 discoye! al
insensibility to the obligations We owe the
memory Of he iilus!rous patrons OF America
freedom. They have raised US, by theE
magnanimity, from the arbitrary dominion 3!
aloreign power to the distinguished elevation
of a sovereign aud independesl people; ,heJ
have asserted and maintained The imprescTp.
tiole rights of humanity by the mutual
pledge OF their pledge OF their lives, theiriOG.
tunes and their sacred honors )" and, as Ion,
as virtue holds her empire in the hearts d
their SUCCESSORS, tue example of these gene
rous benefactors will not be lost to the word:
their names will not pass away nor be forge.
ten, or their glorious deeds be confoundedn
the common and casual transaction OF life.
Ingratitude is vice that in nations, as well
as individuals, indicates the last degree g
degeneracy and corruption It is a vice thai
implies the absence of every virtue it ws3
in the age of Caligula that the name OF ht
Scipios was prescribed, that the stale Of
Bruus brought death on its possessor.
The glory of our ancestors is tie lightOl
posterity," and the homage of the living car.
not be offered to the merits of The iusrNU
dead with an efectual or sterile admiration
Great and splendid actions will seldom Lc
achieved by men who have bundle or Odr
nary object: in prospect. II is b. con'eMTh
ting the life and character OF those whoap
marked out from the multitude by their epr
nent qualities, that we become enuIOus d
their virtues and their renown. The topht
of Miltades interrupted the sleeps Of lheuE
toCles and Theseus, bearing the e1ploibG
Hercules, was fred with his spirit, ard b
came the successful rival of his fame. In
rude savage OF the desert listens with IapGF
to the deeds of his ancestors. and hangs &
round his hut the emb!ems his father'sH
lour.
More need not be said to enforce the udliI
of the publication We have undertaken, aiS
which we now submit 10 the patronage Olgf
fellow citizens. with hope, tbat from u
liberality of their encouragement, We sfly
be able 10 present it 10 the public WORTHY
their appreciation. We must depend iOr9
illustration OF many of the characters Of dS
biography, upon The generosity of theirGl
yiviDg relatives and friends, to furnish Us Tlii
whatever interesting materials may be in lba
possession; for which, with our grateful ~
acknowledgements, we promise copy OF @
entire ork as compensated.
CONDITIONS.
|. The work will be pnbliihed in numbers
half volumes Of eco pages, octave, az
contained in ten numbers. TO the Dr.
will be prefyed an appropriate 'FRONT.',
piece-and the work will he commerce!
with The declaration of INDEPENDENTLY
engraved fac SMILES oflbe signatures any
eompendious detail Of the proceedings .
congress, during the passage OF The lar
Each OF the lives, unless wien il s w.
practicable, will be preceded by q lhrI
sof the person, engraved ty lie Icy
artists in the United States.
II. 1t viii be printed on fine parer, mae5
expressly for the purpose, and celFelv'
to subscribers at t1po dollars and Viyfe"
pernumber, payable on delivery
~" Subscriptions re ceiyed at Tins chss'
HofoLar