Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829 to Samuel Holton
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01579.01 Author/Creator: Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829 Place Written: Salem, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 16 October 1775 Pagination: 2 p. ; 32 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Written to fellow jurist Samuel Holton discussing the qualifications of a justice, the readiness of the American forces, and George Washington's opinion of his own army. Satirizes another judge who thinks all judges should have "the prime qualities of an executioner." He believes "the proper qualifications of a judge" are "integrity, ability, & knowledge of the law...a discerner between truth & falsehood, right and wrong." Believes that the colonies were not ready for war, and are still unprepared now, but insists in his full patriotism despite these doubts. Says Washington "declared to me last week" that "he is obliged to remain most mortifyingly inactive" because his troops are unprepared.
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